One  Hundred  Years 


!  Ito.F  TH  E 


L 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 


♦  • 


r^ 


{^^y^  ^     /^^^?^^ 


MEMOKIAL 


OF   THE 


CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY 


OF   THE 


Slugusta,  #Eorsia 


*^ 


THE   ANNIVERSARY   EXERCISES 
May  Fifteenth  to  Eighteenth 

1904 


Press   of 

ALLEN.    LANE    &    SCOTT, 

Philadelphia. 


This   Edition  is  Limited  to   Six   Hundred 
Copies,  signed  by  the  Pastor. 


This  Copy  is  No. 


.,  Pastor. 


14BC€5'1 


1804  1904 

TO    THE    MEMORY 

OF    OUR 

LOVED    MEMBERS    IN    THE    CHURCH    TRIUMPHANT, 

AND    THE 

INFLUENCE    OF    THEIR    DEVOTION 

TO    THE 

STEADFAST    DOCTRINES    OF    OUR    MOTHER    CHURCH 


Contentjs 


Preface 9 

Editorial  Committee 11 

An   Appreciation 12 

Invitation 13 

Centennial  Ode 15 

Programme 17 

Quotations  from  Pastoral  Letter  to  Executive  Committee 18 

Centennial  Committees 19 

Greetings  from  the  General  Assembly 25 

Story  of  the  First  Presbjrterian  Church 27 

Centennial  Sunday-school  Exercises 67 

Rev.  Dr.   Plunket's  Address 70 

Pastor's  Remarks  at  the  Unveiling  of  the  Memorial  Tablet.  .  76 

A  Century  of   Home  Missions 81 

A  Century  of  Foreign  Missions 97 

Presbyterianism  and   Education 115 

Incidents  of  the  Centennial 129 

Activities  of  the  Church  during  the  Present  Pastorate 135 

Sketch  of  the  Pastor 147 

Narrative  of  the  Ladies'  Foreign  Missionary  Society 153 

Seed  Sowing  and  Reaping 159 

List  of  Officers  and  Trustees 163 

Roll  of  Membership 165 

Sunday-school  Officers  and  Teachers 175 

Reid  Memorial  Sunday  School    176 

Riverside  Sunday  School   177 

Cradle  Roll 178 


gillujstrattonjs 


Rev.  J.  T.   Plunket,  D.  D.,  M.  D.,  Pastor.     (Frontispiece.) 

First  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  Sunday-school  and   Library   Building. 

The  Manse. 

Badge  in  Color. 


preface 


THE  history  of  the  Church,  whether  it  be  that 
of  the  Church  universal  or  the  records  of  a 
local  branch,  supplies  a  commentary  which 
cannot  be  mistaken  on  the  promise  of  our  Lord  that 
He  would  be  with  His  disciples  always.  The  purpose 
of  this  volume  is  to  make  a  permanent  record  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  recent  centennial  celebration  of 
this  church.  Those  exercises  will  be  remembered 
with  profoundest  satisfaction  as  long  as  life  shall  last 
by  all  those  who  were  privileged  to  participate  in 
them. 

It  is  sought  herein  to  preserve  in  a  worthy  form 
the  proceedings  of  that  memorable  occasion;  to  garner 
up  the  wisdom  of  many  minds  and  the  fruitage  of 
rich  and  manifold  experiences;  "to  tell  of  the  things 
which  we  have  heard  and  know  and  which  our  fathers 
have  told  us."  So  much  of  the  church's  history  as 
could  be  gathered  is  herein  presented;  able  addresses 
on  Education,  Home  and  Foreign  Missions  are  made 
record  of;  place  is  given  the  exercises  of  the  Sabbath 
school  on  Centennial  Sabbath,  and  under  various  and 
proper  headings  are  set  forth  several  phases  of  the 
centennial  occasion  itself,  and  also  the  activities  by 
which  we  have  sought  to  glorify  God. 


10  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

The  admirable  sermon  of  Rev.  Dr.  G.  B.  Strickler 
on  "The  Distinctive  Doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  "  is  reluctantly  omitted  in  the  volume  because 
the  distinguished  author  says,  "I  am  anxious  to  pre- 
sent, some  time  in  the  future,  our  distinctive  doctrines 
in  a  popular  form  that  will  commend  them  to  some 
who  now  are  prejudiced  against  them."  We  shall 
anticipate  this  intended  work  from  Dr.  Strickler  with 
confidence  in  its  great  polemical  value. 

The  things  which  are  herein  presented  are  pub- 
lished that  we  may  have  them  for  our  own  future 
reference  and  for  the  edification  of  the  generations 
that  are  to  come  after  us. 

The  effort  has  been  to  prepare  such  a  memorial 
as  that  every  member  of  this  church  and  many  others 
will  desire  to  have  a  copy  as  their  own.  If  this  comely 
volume,  freighted  as  it  is  with  the  story  of  God's  good- 
ness to  us  and  of  our  service  in  His  cause,  does  not 
find  large  and  loving  place  in  the  hearts  of  all  of  our 
people,  and  does  not  stimulate  the  future  life  and 
work  of  the  church,  its  mission  will  be  a  failure  and 
those  who  have  labored  in  its  publication  will  be  dis- 
appointed. In  sending  the  Memorial  forth,  the  edit- 
ors follow  it  with  grateful  memories  of  pleasant  hours 
spent  in  its  preparation,  and  with  the  prayer  that 
the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  will  bless  the  spirit 
which  inspired  the  occasion  and  is  sought  to  be  pre- 
served within  its  pages. 

The  Pastor. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  11 


CDitortal  Committee 


MRS.   MARY  C.    WADLEY,   Chairman; 

MRS.  B.   F.   BROWN, 

MRS.  J.  W.  MOORE, 

MRS.  GEORGE  R.  SIBLEY, 

MRS.  F.  M.  STOVALL. 


an  appreciation 


It  is  our  pleasure  to  acknowledge  gratefully  the 
thoughtful  kindness  of  our  Pastor,  whose  letters  of 
sympathy  and  love  imparted  bright  hope  and  restful 
peace  to  the  aged,  the  sick,  and  the  bereaved,  provi- 
dentially absent  from  our  joyous  centennial. 

Most  deeply  do  we  appreciate  the  successful  efforts 
of  all  the  committees  and  their  generous  remembrance 
of  the  poor;  while  loving  hearts  and  tender  hands 
made  beautiful  with  floral  gifts  the  last  resting  places 
of  former  pastors  and  co-workers  in  Christ's  vineyard. 

Editorial  Committee. 


(12) 


fu'dttation 


IS04 


Hi    lialf  afifr  aiJJtf   u'rlurlt 


Centennial  €)De 


By  Miss  May  Eve. 


(&oti'&  ilBuilDing 

Ye  are  God's  building. — I.  Cor.  iii.  9. 
Upon  this  consecrated  spot — 

Sunshine  or  shadow,  joy  or  tears — 
A  sacred  edifice  has  stood 

For  God  and  heaven  a  hundred  years. 
A  Hghthouse  on  the  shore  of  time, 

Across  the  blackness  of  the  night, 
Where  waves  are  beating  on  the  rocks, 

It  ever  sends  its  guiding  Hght. 

And  yet  a  structure  stands  more  fair, 

Where  silently  the  stones  are  placed; 
No  sound  of  hammer  is  ever  heard, 

For  there  the  hand  of  God  has  traced 
Upon  each  stone  His  sacred  name 

As  one  by  one  He  builds  them  on; 
And  aye,  this  building  yet  shall  stand 

When  rocks  have  crumbled  and  have  gone. 

So  through  the  hundred  years  that's  gone 

This  inner  building  rose  so  fair, 
And  many  a  stone  is  added  on 

That's  chiselled  in  that  house  of  prayer; 
And  in  another  hundred  years, 

When  worshipers  are  gathered  there, 
A  mighty  structure,  pure  and  white. 

Shall  glisten  in  the  upper  air. 

(15) 


i^togtamme 


Sunday,  May   15th,   1904 

11.00  A.  M. 

"Distinctive  Doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.' 

Rev.  G.  B.  Strickler,  D.  D.,LL.  D., 

Union  Theological  Seminary,   Richmond,  Va. 

3.30  P.  M. 
Exercises  for  the  Children  in  Church  Auditorium. 

8.30  P.  M. 
"A  Century  of  Home  Missions." 

Rev.  S.  L.  Morris,  D.  D., 
General  Assembly's  Secretary  of  Home  Missions,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Monday,  May   16th,   1904. 
11.00  A.  M. 
"An  Historical  Sketch  of  the  Local  Church." 

Prepared  by  Mrs.  Thomas  P.  Branch, 
Read  by  the  Pastor,  Rev.  J.  T.  Plunket,  D.  D.,  M.  D. 

8.30  P.  M. 

"A  Century  of  Foreign  Missions." 

Rev.  Francis  R.  Beattie,  D.  D.,  LL.  D., 

Presbyterian  Theological  Seminary  of  Kentucky,  Louisville.  Ky. 

Tuesday,  May   17th,   1904, 

11.00  A.  M. 

"  Presbyterianism  and  Education." 

Rev.  F.  H.  Gaines,  D.  D., 
President  Agnes  Scott  Institute,  Decatur,  Ga. 

S. 30— 9.30  P.  M. 

(Church  Auditorium). 

Greetings  from  Sister  Denominations  of  the  City. 

9.30—11.00   P.  M. 

(Sunday  School  and  Library  Building). 

Reception. 

Music. 

Refreshments. 

(17) 


18  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 


€iuotat(onjs  from  i^ajstotal  letter  to 
Crecutil^e  Committee 


"The  prevailing  spirit  of  every  service  should  be, 
'When  I  remember  all  thy  mercies,  O  God,  I  will  come 
into  thy  courts  with  thanksgiving  and  renew  my  vows 
unto  thy  Holy  name.'  Unless  we  make  the  occasion 
deeply  spiritual,  a  holy  day  as  well  as  a  holiday,  we 
shall  miss  the  best  in  it  all.     Let  that  fact  be  stressed." 


"While  everything  is  to  be  up  to  the  standard  gas- 
tronomically,  intellectually,  and  aesthetically,  yet  the 
vital  breath  of  it  all  is  love  to  God,  the  God  of  our 
fathers  and  our  God." 


"Altogether  our  aim  is  to  magnify  the  good  hand 
of  God,  whose  memorial  this  is  that  we  observe;  to 
give  uplift  to  our  own  people,  deepening  their  love 
and  loyalty  to  the  Mother  Church,  and  to  make  impress 
on  the  community,  emphasizing  'What  a  Presbyte- 
rian Church  stands  for  in  our  country.'  " 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  19 


committees 


ONE   HUNDREDTH  ANNIVERSARY 


Cretuttije  Committee 

Mrs.  James  W.  Moore,  Chairman;  Mrs.  F.  M.  Stovall, 

Mrs.  a.  H.  Baker,  Mrs.  J.  Miller  Walker, 

Mrs.  Robert  A.  Fleming,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Wallace, 

Mrs.  William  A.  Reid,  Mrs.  Moses  Wadley. 
Mrs.  George  R.  Sibley, 

ifinance  Committee 

Mr.  T.  W.  Coskery,  Chairman;  Mr.  Philip  North, 

Mr.  H.  H.  Alexander,  Mr.  Jacob  Phinizy, 

Mr.  William  E.  Benson,  Mr.  Joseph  S.  Reynolds, 

Mr.  C.  E.  Clark,  Mr.  Joel  Smith, 

Mr.  D.  B.  Dyer.  Mr.  John  T.  Shewmake, 

Mr.  James  D.  Dawson,  Mr.  Samuel  Tannahill, 

Mr.  Frank  E.   Fleming,  Mr.  J.  Miller  Walker, 

Mr.  James  L.  Fleming,  Mr.  Walker  Wallace. 

Mr.  Charles  T.  Fargo,  Mr.  Maurice  Walton, 

Mr.  C.  B.  Garrett,  Mr.  Charles  E.  Whitney, 

Mr.  John  Moore,  Mr.  J.  P.  Wood. 

£0emorial  Committee 

Mr.  John  A.  North. 

3Inbitation  Committee 

Mrs.  B.   F.  Brown,  Chairman;  Miss  Mary  North, 

Miss  M.  E.   Bailie,  Miss  Rachel  Reid. 

Mrs.  O.  R.  Eve,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Westmoreland, 

Miss  Olive  Eve,  Miss  Irma   Wilcox, 

Mrs.  J.  C.  Fargo,  Rev.  J.T.  Plunket,  D.C.M.D. 

Miss  E.  Harper,  Ex  Officio. 


20 


CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 


deception  Committee 


Rev.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Plunket, 

Rev.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Burwell, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  T.  W.  Alexander, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  M.  Alexander, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  W.  Anderson, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  F.  Baker, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  J.  A.  Berckmans,  Jr., 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  A.  Brahe, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  F.  Brown, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oswell  R.  Eve, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  T.  Fargo, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Porter  Fleming, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  H.  Fleming, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carleton  Hillyer, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  U.  Jackson, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  E.  Jackson, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  G.  McLaws, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  M.  North, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Phinizy, 

Dr.  J.  D.  and  Miss  Gertrude  Plunket, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  B.  Pope, 

Col.  and  Mrs.  J.  R.  Randall, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  S.  Roberts, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  M.  Stovall, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  A.  Scott, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  Miller  Walker, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.   William  C.  Wardlaw, 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  George  A.  Wilcox, 

Mrs.  Floride  C.  Adams, 


Miss  S.  G.  Ansley, 
Mrs.  Henry  Beeman, 
Mrs.  a.  H.  Baker, 
Mrs.  T.  p.  Branch, 
Mr.  George  P.  Butler, 
Mrs.  T.  D.  Caswell, 
Mrs.  a.  M.  Cuthbert, 
Mrs.  Mary  Miller  Eve, 
Dr.  Hinton  Eve, 
Mrs.  R.  a.  Fleming, 
Mrs.  Pauline  Flisch, 
Mr.  H.  a.  Flisch, 
Mrs.  W.  a.  Garrett, 
Mrs.  Harriet  Gould, 
Mrs.  John  K.  Jackson, 
Mrs.  C.  a.  Rowland, 
Mrs.  Robert  Schley, 
Mrs.  William  C.  Sibley, 
Mrs.  George  R.  Sibley, 
Mr.  O.  M.  Stone, 
Mrs.  a.  C.  Vason, 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Wallace, 
Mr.  Fielding  Wallace, 
Mr.  John  Walker, 
Mr.  Warren  Walker, 
Miss  Charlotte  Wardlaw, 
Mr.  J.  B.  White, 
Mrs.  Seymour  M.  Whitney, 
Mrs.  Ann  M.  Winter. 


SDecorating  Committee 


Mrs.  John  T    Shewmake,  Chairman; 

Mrs.  W.  G.  Addison, 

Mrs.  W.  S.  Burton, 

Miss  M.   R.  Campbell, 

Mrs.  Charles  D.  Carr, 

Mrs.  a.  H.  DeVaughn, 

Miss  Sadie  G.   Eve, 

Mrs.  W.  W.  Fry, 

Miss  Mabel  Greene, 

Mrs.  William  C.  Kellogg, 


Mrs.  Huguenin  McLaws, 
Miss  Marion  Rood, 
Mrs.  a.  J.  Salinas, 
Mr.  John  T.  Shewmake, 
Miss  Nellie  Wadley, 
Miss  S.  J.  Wilcox, 
Mrs.  F.  E.  Whitney, 
Mrs.  Howard  V.  Wilcox, 
Mr.  John  Whitney. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


21 


€UctticUn 


Mr.  Frank  E.  Whitney. 


SOecorattng  ^unDa^^^cljool  llBuilDing 


Mrs.  T.  W.  Alexander,  Chairman; 

Mrs.  W.  M.  Alexander, 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Baxter, 

Mrs.  p.  J.  A    Berckmans,  Jr., 

Miss  Carrie  Crane, 

Mrs.  Harold  Eve, 


Mr.  O.  B.  Eve, 
Mrs.  Bernard  Franklin, 
Mrs.  H.  H.  Malone, 
Mrs.  William  Martin, 
Mrs.  Ernest  North, 
Mrs.  Charles  Whitnby. 


§>upper  Committee 


Mrs.  Theodore  D.  Caswell,  Chairman;       Mrs. 

Mrs.  H.  H.  Alexander,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  a.  H.  Baker,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  J.  L.  Bowles,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  C.  a.  Cumming,  Mrs. 

Miss  Mary  Craig,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  Walter  Cameron,  Miss 

Mrs.  J.  T.  Clancy,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  J.  E.  Clancy,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  Emmerson,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  Elmore,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  Sterling  Eve,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  Joseph  Fargo,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  George  J.  Fargo,  Miss 

Mrs.  William  T.  Field,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  Charles  Ferris,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  R.  a.  Fleming,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  James  H.  Hollingsworth,  Mrs. 

Mrs.  Lou  Scales  Jackson,  Mrs. 


Robert  Potter, 
Walter  Pearce, 
J.  B.  Preston, 
Remsen, 

William  A.  Reid, 
Dudley  G.  Stebbins, 
Anna  Thew, 
W.  W.  Tommins, 
Thompson, 
George  Toale 
W.  H.  T.  Walker, 
J.  Miller  Walker, 
J.  W.  Wallace, 
Lula  C.  Walton, 
Samuel  Weisiger, 
George  H.  Wells, 

NiSBET    WiNGFIELD, 

p.  M.  Whitman, 
T.  R.  Wright. 


2Dable 


Mrs.  M.  B.  Dugas,  Chairman; 
Mrs.  T.  B.  Branch, 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Cranston, 
Mrs.  James  U.  Jackson, 
Mrs.   H.  G.  Jeffries, 


Mrs.  Jacob  Phinizy, 
Mrs.  F.  B.  Pope, 
Mrs.  N.  a.  Teague, 
Mrs.  Maurice  Walton 


22 


CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 


foetal  ifunction0  Committee 


Mrs.  H.  H.  Malone,  Chairman; 

Miss  Rachel  Reid,   V ice-Chairman; 

Miss  Minnie  Adams, 

Miss  Eunice  Baker, 

Miss  Mary  E.  Bailie, 

Miss  Margaret  Bailie, 

Mr.  John  Bailie, 

Miss  Annie  Branch, 

Mr.  Arthur  Bryngelson 

Mr.  Louis  Burdell, 

Miss  Collette  Burhans, 

Miss  Mary  R.  Campbell, 

Miss  Flewellyn  Carter, 

Mr.  Sidney  Clancy, 

Miss  Sadie  Cranston, 

Miss  Hannah  May  Denning, 

Miss  Kittie  Belle  Denning, 

Miss  Katie  Lee  Ellington, 

Miss  Sadie  A.  Eve, 

Miss  Olive  Eve, 

Miss  Sadie  Garland  Eve, 

Miss  Jennie  Falks, 

Miss  Belle  Fargo, 

Mr.  John  Fargo, 

Mr.   Harvey  Ferris, 

Mr.  Claude  Fleming, 

Miss  Leonie  Flisch, 

Mr.  Adrian  Ford, 

Miss  Nell  Ford, 

Mr.  Joseph  Goldman, 

Miss  Mattie  Hammel, 

Mr.  Henry  Hardwick, 

Miss  Lula  Harper, 

Miss  Mamie  Harper, 

Mr.  Walton  Harper, 

Mr.  Thurman  Hattaway 

Miss  Minnie  Hilton. 


Mr.  Grady  Hollingsworth, 

Mr.  William  F.  Holman, 

Mr.  William  Holmes, 

Mr.  Clifford  Hughes, 

Mrs.  J.  P.  Hughes, 

Miss  Emma  Georgia  Hull, 

Miss  Lucy  Ingram, 

Mr.  E.  L.  Johnson, 

Miss  Kathleen  Lowe, 

Mr.  Carl  Meyer, 

Miss  Gretchen  Meyer, 

Miss  Helen  Meyer, 

Miss  Florida  Moore, 

Mr.  Henry  Neese, 

Miss  Effie  May  Nibbling, 

Miss  Annie  Owens, 

Miss  Mary  Plank, 

Miss  Ann  C.  Phinizy, 

Miss  Alida  Potter, 

Miss  Elizabeth  Reid, 

Miss  Edith  Remsen, 

Mr.   Percy  Reynolds, 

Miss  Marion  Rood, 

Miss  Mabel  Sandstrom, 

Mr.  Oscar  Sandstrom, 

Miss  Anna  Belle  Sibley, 

Miss  Louise  Smith, 

Miss  Fanny  Stebbins, 

Mr.  Harry  Stoy, 

Mr.  William  Tommins, 

Miss  Maggie  Urquhart, 

Miss  Eugenia  Walton, 

Miss  Eliza  Wardlaw, 

Miss  Josie  Wardlaw, 

Mrs.  Frank  Whitney, 

Mr.  John  Whitney, 

Miss  Mattie  Wright. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


23 


tloofeout 


Mr.  C.  B.  Garrett,  Chairman; 

Mr.  T.  G.  Bailie, 

Mr.  R.  D.  Crocker, 

Mr.  H.  G.  McLaws, 


Mr.  Henry  North, 

Mr.  Alex.  Rae, 

Mr.  J.  Miller  Walker. 


tHfit^erflf 


Mr.  Howard  V.  Wilcox    Chairman; 

Mr.  Hinton  Baker, 

Mr.  Louis  Burdell, 

Mr.  William  Burton, 

Mr.  Bayard  Caswell, 

Mr.  H.  H.  Coskery, 

Mr.  Samuel  Fortson, 

Mr.  Claude  Fleming, 

Mr.  John  Davison  Fargo, 

Mr.  Will  Fargo, 

Mr.  Adrian  Ford, 

Mr.  James  Harper, 

Mr.  R.  L.   Hunter, 


Mr.  William  E.  Jackson, 
Mr.  William  Martin, 
Mr.  Frank  Moore, 
Mr.  Frank  North, 
Mr.  Paul  Wood  Plunket, 
Mr.  Joseph  S.  Reynolds, 
Mr.  Robert  Rood, 
Mr.  George  Sibley, 
Mr.  Fielding  Wallace, 
Mr.  Walker  Wallace, 
Mr.  John  Walker, 
Mr.  William  Wardlaw 
Mr.  John  Whitney. 


•uarusf  anD  Sissi&tdints 


Andrew  J.  Winter,  Chairman; 
Fannie  M.  Winter, 
Jennie  Walton, 


Gillie  H.  Robinson, 
Mary  D.  Paschal 


(5ttttini^ 


The  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Augusta,  Georgia, 
the  birthplace  of  the  Presbyterian  General  Assembly 
in  the  United  States,  upon  the  occasion  of  the  church 
celebrating  the  centennial  of  its  organization,  sends 
greetings   to  the   Assembly. 

J.  T.  PLUNKET, 

Pastor. 


Mobile,  Ala.,  May  21st,  1904. 
Rev.  J.  T.  Plunket,  Augusta,  Ga.: 

The  Assembly  communicates  its  hearty  congratula- 
tions to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Augusta, 
Georgia,  upon  the  occasion  of  the  celebration  of  its 
centennial.  Second  Corinthians,  thirteenth  chapter, 
fourteenth  verse :  "  The  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  love  of  God,  and  the  communion  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  be  with  you  all.      Amen." 

W.  A.  ALEXANDER, 

Stated  Clerk. 


FIRST     PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH, 
AUGUSTA,     GA. 


of  augujSta,  d^eorgta 


By  Mrs.  Thomas  P.  Branch. 


IN  the  year  1804  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Augusta,  Georgia,  was  organized.  In  1750,  seventeen 
years  after  Oglethorpe  made  his  first  settlement  in 
Georgia,  and  only  fifteen  years  after  the  christening 
of  our  little  town,  a  church  had  been  built.  It  was 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Church  of  England, 
was  named  St.  Paul's,  and  was  destroyed  at  the  out- 
break of  the  Revolutionary  War.  In  1783  the  Grand 
Jury,  in  their  presentments  to  the  court,  state  that 
there  was  not  a  place  of  worship  in  the  town.  The 
church  property  had  been  given  to  the  trustees  of 
the  Richmond  Academy,  but  this  action  of  the  Grand 
Jury  resulted  in  the  building  of  the  second  St.  Paul's 
on  the  site  occupied  during  the  war  by  Fort  Com- 
wallis.  Episcopacy  had  fallen  into  disfavor,  and  the 
new  building  was  intended  at  the  time  of  its  erection 
for  the  use  of  all  denominations. 

For  the  first  ten  years  the  clergyman  in  charge  was 
an  Episcopal  rector,  but  in  1804  the  Presbyterians  of 
the  flock  organized  themselves  into  a  church  and  the 
trustees  of  the  Richmond  Academy  agreed  to  lease 
the  building  to  them  for  a  year.  The  Rev.  Wash- 
ington McKnight  was  called  to  the  pastorate.  Messrs. 
John  Taylor,  William  Fee,  and  George  Watkins  were 

(27) 


28  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

ordained  elders,  and  the  sacraments  were  regtilarly  ad- 
ministered. Mr.  McKnight's  term  of  office  was  a  short 
one.  He  lies  buried  in  St.  Paul's  churchyard,  and  his 
monument  there  bears  the  inscription:  "In  memory  of 
the  Rev.  Washington  McKnight,  who  departed  this 
life  on  the  5th  of  September,  1805,  aged  26  years. 
By  an  affectionate  father." 

In  a  brief  but  touching  memorial  the  Session  bore 
witness  to  the  unaffected  piety  and  Christian  worth 
of  this  young  clergyman,  who  laid  the  foundation 
stone  of  Presbyterianism  in  Augusta.  After  the  death 
of  Mr.  McKnight  the  congregation  worshiping  in  St. 
Paul's  was  without  a  pastor  until  July  3d,  1806,  when 
a  call  was  presented  to  the  Rev.  John  R.  Thompson, 
a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  and  then 
rector  of  the  Richmond  Academy.  The  call  was  ac- 
cepted, and  Mr.  Thompson  entered  on  his  duties  on 
the  9th  of  May,  1807.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Hopewell.  Mr.  Thompson's  first  ministerial 
act  was  to  call  for  an  election  of  elders,  as  only  one 
of  the  original  three  remained.  The  gentlemen  chosen 
by  the  members  of  the  church  were  Mr.  Thomas  Gum- 
ming, Mr.  Oswell  Eve,  and  Mr.  Augustus  Moore.  Mr. 
Gumming  had  just  finished  his  office  as  intendant  or 
mayor  of  the  town,  and  continued  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life  to  render  most  valuable  service 
to  the  church  and  the  community. 

At  the  death  of  Mr.  McKnight  the  membership  of 
the  church  consisted  of  the  following  thirteen  persons: 
Mrs.  EHzabeth  McKinne,  Mrs.  Mary  Herbert,  Mrs.  Mary 
Montgomery,  Mrs.  Ann  Murray,  Mrs.  Eliza  Reid,  Mrs. 
Mary  Murren,  Mrs.  Stallings,  Mrs.  Naylor,  Mrs.  Priscilla 
Sims,  Miss  Susan  Bird,  Dr.  John  Murray,  Mr.  Thomas 
Sandwich,  and  Mr.  John  Taylor.     At  the  date  of  the 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  29 

election  of  the  new  elders  the  membership  of  the  church 
had  increased  to  twenty-seven  by  the  admission  of 
the  following  persons:  Mrs.  Mary  Hobby;  Mr.  Thomas 
Gumming,  Mrs.  Ann  Gumming,  his  wife;  Mr.  Oswell 
Eve,  Mrs.  Ann  Eve,  his  wife;  Mr.  Augustus  Moore,  Mrs. 
Keziah  Moore,  his  wife;  Mrs.  Margaret  Sandwich,  Mrs. 
Ann  Barrett,  Mrs.  Ann  Gardner,  Mrs.  Gatharine  Stiles, 
Mrs.  Gatharine  Watkins,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Moore,  Miss 
Gatharine  Gourse. 

During  the  five  years  in  which  our  people  worshiped 
in  St.  Paul's  Ghurch  the  pew  rents  supplied  all  finan- 
cial demands,  i.  e.,  the  minister's  salary  and  current 
expenses.  In  1808  we  find  the  following  statement: 
"  Pastor's  salary,  $800.00;  Glerk  of  the  church,  $100.00; 
Sexton,  Zachariah  Bell,  $50.00."  We  also  find  the  fol- 
lowing entry:  "Session  then  proceeded  to  appoint  a 
person  to  lead  the  musick,  and  Mr.  Isaac  Jarvis  was 
chosen,  with  a  salary  of  $100.00  a  year."  Another 
order  of  the  same  date  directs  the  purchase  of  "fifty 
tokens"  for  the  use  of  the  church.  These  "tokens" 
were  no  doubt  similar  to  those  in  use  for  many  years 
in  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  churches,  and  somewhat 
resembled  small  coins,  but  were  oval  in  shape  and 
bore  on  one  side  a  few  words  of  Scripture  and  on  the 
other  the  name  of  the  church  which  issued  them.  They 
were  distributed  a  week  before  the  communion  service 
was  held,  and  they  were  collected  as  the  last  hymn  or 
psalm  before  the  ordinance  was  being  sung.  The  object 
of  admission  by  token  was  to  prevent  unworthy  per- 
sons or  those  not  in  membership  with  any  orthodox 
church  from  receiving  the  sacrament.  Another  order 
of  Session  directs  that  "a  sounding  board  be  placed 
over  the  pulpit  of  St.  Paul's,  said  board  to  be  of  such 
form  and  dimensions  as  the  minister  may  direct." 


30  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

The  Presbyterian  Church  has  always  been  a  mis- 
sionary Church  in  spirit,  and  in  the  same  year,  1808, 
a  quaintly-worded  entry  tells  us  that  the  pastor  re- 
ceived a  letter  "from  a  respectable  source  in  Wilkes 
County"  requesting,  in  behalf  of  many  religious  per- 
sons residing  there,  the  attendance  of  Mr.  Thompson 
to  assist  in  organizing  a  church  at  Smyrna,  and  add- 
ing that  the  elders  "saw  the  propriety  of  said  request, 
and  cheerfully  agreed  thereto."  A  contribution  of 
twenty-five  dollars  was  also  sent  to  Mr.  Hall,  "a  mis- 
sionary from  the  Synod  of  the  Carolinas." 

In  the  year  1808  Mr.  Thompson,  accompanied  by 
one  of  his  elders,  journeyed  to  Charleston  to  attend 
a  meeting  of  Presbytery — and  railway  trains  were 
still  twenty  years  in  the  future!  We  would  like  to 
know  how  those  good  men  traveled  to  "the  city  by 
the  sea";  how  long  they  were  on  the  way,  and  with 
what  adventures  they  met ;  whether  dusky  faces  peered 
at  them  from  behind  the  trees  of  the  forest,  and  under 
what  hospitable  roofs  they  found  shelter  by  night. 

The  difficulty  of  travel  in  those  days  was  great.  It 
is  recorded  that  a  prominent  man  of  the  time  jour- 
neying from  Florida  to  Washington  City,  and  not  be- 
ing in  the  full  vigor  of  manhood,  died  of  fatigue  in 
Augusta,  and  is  buried  in  St.  Paul's  churchyard.  No 
such  untimely  fate,  however,  befell  Mr.  Thompson  and 
his   elder — they   returned  from    Charleston    in   safety. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  1809,  the  yearly  application  to 
rent  the  pews  in  St.  Paul's  was  made  to  the  trustees 
of  the  Academy;  it  was  refused,  on  the  plea  that  liber- 
ality required  the  church  to  be  thrown  open  to  all 
applicants  alike.  "Thereby,"  says  the  record,  "they 
have  in  effect,  it  is  feared,  as  regards  usefulness,  closed 
the  doors  to  all."     Besides  the  question  of  liberality, 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  31 

however,  there  seems  to  have  been  the  very  practical 
one  of  lack  of  room. 

During  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Boyd,  which 
began  in  1794  and  lasted  until  1799,  there  was  very 
little  interest  taken  in  religious  matters;  but  when 
the  Rev.  James  P.  Hull  came  to  Augusta  to  preach, 
by  the  invitation  of  a  number  of  citizens,  the  attend- 
ance at  church  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  the 
seating  capacity  of  St.  Paul's  was  unequal  to  the 
emergency. 

In  Mr.  Thompson's  day  the  church,  no  doubt,  may 
have  been  uncomfortably  filled,  for  it  is  known  that 
one  of  the  Presbyterian  elders  had  been  advising  his 
brethren  in  the  faith  to  "colonize."  As  there  were 
only  thirteen  actual  members,  we  suppose  the  attend- 
ance of  persons  who  were  not  members  must  have  been 
large.  As  the  trustees,  however,  had  issued  their 
mandate,  the  Presbyterians  could  no  longer  reign 
supreme  in  St.  Paul's.  Their  office  bearers  seem  to 
have  shown  spirit  and  energy  in  the  emergency.  They 
made  a  canvass  of  the  community,  stating  their  case 
and  their  inability  to  pay  their  pastor's  salary.  The 
amount  was  soon  collected,,  and  then  a  subscription 
list  was  opened  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  Presby- 
terian church. 

One  year  previously  some  members  of  the  congre- 
gation had  indeed  made  an  application  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Georgia.  In  it  they  requested  permission 
for  certain  individuals,  as  trustees,  to  incorporate  a 
Presbyterian  church  in  the  name  of  "Christ  Church," 
said  church  building  to  be  erected  on  a  lot  on  the 
Commons  of  Augusta.  In  1808  an  Act  was  passed 
authorizing  and  requiring  the  conveyance  of  such  a 
lot  to  the  seven  trustees  and  their  successors.     "This 


32  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

Act  is  signed  by  Benjamin  Whittaker,  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  and  Henry  Mitchell,  presi- 
dent of  the  Senate,  and  approved  December  16th, 
1808,  by  Jared  Irwin,  Governor."  The  following  per- 
sons were  named  as  trustees:  John  Taylor,  James 
Pearre,  John  Wilson,  Sr.,  Thomas  Gumming,  John 
Campbell,  John  B.  Barnes,  and  William  White.  The 
Act  of  incorporation  bears  date  of  one  year  later,  and 
on  May  3d,  1809,  the  necessary  papers  were  turned 
over  to  the  trustees.  The  Building  Committee  con- 
sisted of  Dr.  John  Murray,  Messrs.  David  Reid,  Robert 
Cresswell,  Oswell  Eve,  and  Ferdinand  Phinizy.  The 
plans  for  the  church  were  furnished  by  Mr.  Robert 
Mills,  of  Philadelphia.  The  building  when  finished 
was  to  measure  170  feet  long  by  70  feet  wide;  two 
large  doors  were  to  open  east  and  west,  near  the  south 
end  of  the  church.  The  main  entrance  is  unchanged 
to-day.  The  steeple  and  the  pews  in  the  galleries 
were  added  in  1818;  the  steeple  was  not  called  for  by 
the  original  design  of  the  church.  Two  large  stoves 
were  to  constitute  the  heating  apparatus,  and  the 
pulpit  was  to  be  high  above  the  people,  as  the  custom 
of  the  day  demanded.  The  plans  were  accepted  and 
the  foundation  stone  laid  July  4th,  1809,  by  Dr.  John 
Murray,  and  the  work  moved  on  apace. 

As  the  church  neared  completion  two  of  the  Build- 
ing Committee  were  discussing  the  important  question 
of  finances.  One  of  the  gentlemen  remarked:  "I  think 
you  and  I  must  make  up  the  deficit."  "How  much 
is  it?"  inquired  his  friend.  The  first  speaker  held  up 
the  fingers  of  one  hand.  The  friend  agreed  to  do  his 
part,  but  when  his  obligation  was  put  before  him  in 
writing  and  he  found  himself  bound  to  contribute  one- 
half    of    $5000    he    was    panic-stricken.     "Thousands, 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  33 

thousands!"  he  exclaimed;  "I  thought  you  meant  hun- 
dreds!" Whether  the  good  man  rose  to  the  occasion 
or  not  we  do  not  know,  but  the  church  was  finished 
and  opened  for  worship  May  17th,  1812.  It  was  a 
great  day  in  Augusta.  Mr.  Thompson  preached  from 
the  text:  "How  amiable  are  thy  tabernacles,  O  Lord 
of  hosts."  Psalm  Ixxxiv.  1.  About  seven  hundred 
people  were  present,  and  the  "pubHck  prints"  tell  us 
that  "no  congregation  was  ever  more  seriously  atten- 
tive." In  the  afternoon  Rev.  Dr.  Keith,  of  Charleston, 
preached  from  the  text:  "Come  unto  Me  all  ye  that 
labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest." 

The  form  of  admission  to  membership,  with  which 
many  of  us  are  familiar,  was  first  used  in  the  early 
days  of  the  new  church. 

The  question  has  been  asked:  "Where  did  the  Pres- 
byterians worship  between  the  years  1808  and  1812?" 
We  have  no  accurate  information  except  as  regards 
one  service.  On  Sunday,  the  29th  of  March,  1812, 
they  met  in  St.  Paul's,  and  a  collection  was  taken 
up  to  defray  the  expenses  of  a  delegate  to  the  General 
Assembly. 

There  is  an  interesting  item  given  to  us  under  the 
date  of  April  16th,  1816.  An  application  for  finan- 
cial aid  had  been  sent  to  the  Session  from  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary;  it  was  read  to  the  congrega- 
tion, and  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that  the  sum 
of  $250  should  be  devoted  to  the  partial  endowment 
of  a  chair  in  that  seminary.  It  was  to  be  paid  quar- 
terly, in  instalments  of  fifty  dollars  each.  About  this 
time  the  want  of  additional  sacramental  vessels  was 
felt  in  the  church,  and  as  no  arrangements  for  light- 
ing the  auditorium  had  ever  been  made,  Mr.  Thomp- 
son,  who   was  about  to   leave   for  a   Summer  at   the 


34  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

North,  was  requested  to  buy  silver  and  lamps.  The 
purchases  were  not  made,  and  Mr.  Thompson  never 
returned  to  his  charge.  He  died  at  the  North  in  the 
Summer  of  1816.  His  congregation  loved  him  in  life 
and  sincerely  mourned  his  early  death.  The  trustees 
of  the  Academy  also  agreed  to  wear  a  badge  of 
mourning  for  six  weeks. 

Two  years  previous  to  his  departure  for  the  North 
Mr.  Thompson  had  buried  his  young  wife.  A  monu- 
ment to  her  in  St.  Paul's  churchyard  bears  the  in- 
scription: "In  memory  of  Eliza  Thompson,  wife  of  the 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  who  departed  this 
life  July  14th,  1814,  aged  21  years.  She  'walked 
with  God,  and  was  not,  for  God  took  her.'" 

During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Thompson  seventy- 
four  persons  were  added  to  the  church.  It  is  a  great 
temptation  to  linger  over  the  details  of  those  early 
days.  The  little  town  lying  as  it  did  on  the  banks 
of  the  beautiful  river,  guarded  by  its  churches, — one 
on  the  north  and  one  on  the  south, — and  with  the 
echoes  of  recent  conflict  hardly  stilled  on  the  air,  is 
a  picturesque,  almost  a  romantic  spot. 

In  that  far-off  day  the  inhabitants  of  the  little  town 
seem  to  have  been  an  earnest  and  sincere  people — 
generous,  too;  and  in  the  meagre  records  of  the  old 
Session  book  there  are  glimpses  of  kindness  and  ten- 
derness of  feeling  and  of  old-fashioned  and  formal  cour- 
tesy; so  we  read  that  when  Mr.  Thompson's  health 
required  a  change  of  air  and  scene  the  Session  con- 
sent unanimously  that  the  "meditated  journey  is  ex- 
pedient and  proper,"  and  cheerfully  recommend  it  as 
"a  means  whereby  our  pastor  may  be  restored  to 
health  and  fitted  for  usefulness,  and  in  order  that  he 
may  enjoy  the  full  benefit  of  the  intended  relaxation 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  35 

we  would,  with  a  respectful  deference  to  his  own  feel- 
ings and  judgment,  mingled  with  tender  solicitude  for 
his  health,  recommend  him  to  abstain  from  preach- 
ing in  his  absence."  Neither  the  change  of  air,  as 
we  have  seen,  nor  the  love  and  solicitude  of  his  people, 
could  prolong  the  life  of  the  pastor,  and  perhaps  it  is 
a  tribute  to  his  memory  that  the  church  remained 
vacant  for  four  years  after  his  death. 

The  people  were  not  easily  satisfied  in  a  successor. 
In  1820  the  Rev.  William  Moderwel  was  called  to 
the  church  and  was  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Hopewell  in  November,  1821.  Early  in  Mr.  Moder- 
wel's  ministry  the  need  of  a  lecture  room  was  felt, 
and  Mr.  Hobby,  an  elder,  was  authorized  to  apply  to 
the  trustees  of  the  Augusta  Free  School  for  the  use 
of  a  room  on  the  second  floor  of  their  building.  By 
order  of  the  Session  outside  steps  were  added  to  the 
building  in  order  that  the  room  could  be  entered  from 
the  orphan  asylum  alley.  The  meetings  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Georgia  were  held  here  in  November,  1822. 

We  have  no  authentic  record  of  the  Sunday  school 
of  this  period.  A  small  sheet,  brown  and  discolored 
with  age,  gives  a  report  of  one  year's  work,  but  it 
bears  no  date,  and  is  only  supposed  to  be  for  the  year 
1815.  We  naturally  presume  that  the  room  over  the 
free  school  was  used  for  the  sessions  of  the  Sunday 
school  until  1834,  when,  by  the  generous  bequest  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Gumming,  the  building  on  the  comer  of 
Mcintosh  and  Ellis  Streets  came  into  the  possession 
of  the  church. 

In  1826  Mr.  Moderwel  resigned  his  charge.  During 
his  ministry  and  in  the  years  intervening  between 
him  and  Mr.  Thompson  one  hundred  and  twelve  per- 
sons   were    admitted    to    membership.     Mr.    Moderwel 


36  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

kept  alive  the  missionary  spirit  in  his  people.  In 
1825  fifty  dollars  were  sent  to  the  "Missionary  Society 
of  Georgia,  recently  established."  Nor  did  he  forget 
the  poor  of  his  own  church,  for  it  was  in  his  day  that 
the  custom  (still  prevailing)  of  taking  up  a  collection 
for  them  on  Sacrament  Sunday  was  established. 

During  the  year  1827  there  were  two  pastors  in 
charge,  the  Rev.  S.  S.  Davis,  D.  D.,  and  the  Rev. 
S.  K.  Talmage.  When  Mr.  Davis  resigned  on  account 
of  delicate  health,  Mr.  Talmage  remained  in  charge. 
About  this  time  a  small  church  in  Harrisburg  was 
built.  By  an  Act  which  had  been  passed  in  1825, 
Timothy  Edwards,  M.  M.  Payne,  Joseph  Hutchinson, 
Robert  Thomas,  and  James  Primrose  were  incorporated 
as  the  trustees  of  the  Harrisburg  Presbyterian  Church, 
in  the  village  of  that  name  in  the  county  of  Richmond. 
About  the  year  1827  the  church  was  built,  we  suppose, 
in  part,  by  the  exertions  of  the  trustees.  We  know 
that  the  Misses  McDowell,  Dr.  Davis,  and  a  Mrs.  Smelt, 
living  on  the  Sand  Hills,  were  much  interested.  A 
Sunday  school  was  organized  and  kept  up  for  a  num- 
ber of  years. 

The  building  lately  passed  into  the  hands  of  an- 
other denomination;  it  has  since  then  been  rebuilt, 
and  is  known  now  as  St.  Luke's  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  During  Mr.  Talmage's  pastorate  the  Ladies' 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  was  bom.  But  as  the 
history  of  that  lusty  child,  its  growth,  maturity,  and 
ripe  old  age,  has  been  written  already,  we  shall  make 
no  further  mention  of  it  here. 

In  1830  an  auxiliary  to  the  Domestic  Missionary 
Society  was  organized,  and  each  member  of  the  church 
was  asked  to  contribute  fifty  cents  a  month.  The 
subscription   the   first   year   amounted   to    $126.     And 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  37 

SO  that,  in  those  days,  the  two  great  branches  of  mis- 
sionary effort  grew  and  prospered  side  by  side. 

In  1835  Mr.  Talmage  resigned  his  charge  in  order 
to  accept  a  position  in  Oglethorpe  University.  In 
the  interval,  between  the  departure  of  Mr.  Moderwel 
and  the  installation  of  the  joint  pastors,  ninety-four 
persons  joined  the  church.  In  the  years  1827  and 
1835  one  hundred  and  thirteen  were  admitted. 

The  elders  under  Mr.  Talmage  were  Mr.  W.  J.  Hobby, 
Mr.  William  Robertson,  Joel  Catlin,  Ralph  Ketchum, 
and  James  McDowell.  Mr.  Hobby  was  asked  by  Session 
to  prepare  a  brief  history  of  the  church.  As  he  owned 
and  operated  a  printing  press  and  was  an  interested 
member,  there  was  suitability  in  his  selection  as  histo- 
rian; but  we  have  no  record  that  he  granted  the  request. 
Mr.  McDowell  was  an  elder  for  many  years.  He  was  a 
Scotchman,  with  all  the  prejudice  of  his  race  against 
innovations  in  worship.  Mr.  W.  T.  Gould,  afterwards 
judge,  and  a  man  of  great  intellect  and  force  of  char- 
acter, was  also  a  musician,  and  was  much  interested 
in  getting  up  a  subscription  for  the  purchase  of  an 
organ.  A  congregational  meeting  was  called,  and  after 
listening  to  the  arguments  in  favor  of  the  instrument, 
Mr.  McDowell  astonished  those  present  by  rising  and  de- 
manding the  chapter  and  verse  of  Scripture  by  which 
we  were  given  permission  to  praise  God  by  machinery! 

There  is  another  incident  in  connection  with  the 
purchase  of  the  organ:  Mr.  Robert  Campbell,  a  church 
member  of  the  old  school,  and  a  man  respected  by  the 
whole  community  for  his  sterling  virtues,  was  also 
opposed  to  the  innovation.  One  day  he  met  Judge 
Gould,  and  asked  why  he  (Mr.  Campbell)  had  not  been 
called  on  for  a  subscription.  Judge  Gould  replied: 
"Because,  Mr.  Campbell,  I  knew  you  did  not  wish  to 


38  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

have  the  organ."  "That  makes  no  difference,"  said 
Mr.  Campbell;  "when  the  majority  of  the  members 
of  the  church  have  decided  the  matter,  it  is  my  duty 
to  put  aside  personal  feeling  and  assist  as  well  as  I 
may."  These  incidents  belong  probably  to  a  later 
period,  but  the  exact  date  of  the  purchase  of  the  organ 
is  not  recorded. 

Before  leaving  Mr.  Talmage's  pastorate,  we  must 
mention  the  organization  of  a  church  in  Hamburg. 
Twenty  members  asked  to  be  dismissed  from  our  church 
on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  attending  its  services, 
their  homes  being  situated  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Savannah  River.  Among  the  names  were  those  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  L.  Adams,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas 
Cobb,  and  George  M.  Thew.  In  later  years  the  Ham- 
burg church  was  abandoned,  and  the  founders  of  it, 
or  such  of  them  as  remained,  returned  to  their  accus- 
tomed places. 

In  the  year  1837  the  Rev.  Alexander  Cunningham 
was  requested  to  occupy  the  pulpit  for  one  year,  and 
in  1838  he  received  a  call  from  the  congregation.  Mr. 
Cunningham  and  his  Session  seem  to  have  had  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  the  youth  of  the  congregation 
very  much  at  heart.  Parents  were  requested  to 
send  their  children  to  the  lecture  room  on  Saturday 
afternoon  for  instruction  in  the  Shorter  Catechism. 
Whether  the  attendance  was  large  and  regular,  we 
have  no  means  of  ascertaining.  In  April,  1842,  Mr. 
Cunningham  tendered  his  resignation,  leaving  the 
church  with  ninety-six  members  added  during  his 
pastorate.  In  June,  Mr.  Charles  Dod  was  asked  to 
supply  the  pulpit  until  November,  when  he  was  duly 
elected  pastor,  ordained  and  installed  by  Hopewell 
Presbytery. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,  39 

The  elders  at  this  time  were  William  Sheehan,  Por- 
ter Fleming,  and  Dr.  Paul  Eve,  Messrs,  B,  B,  Hop- 
kins, Benjamin  Hall,  and  John  R.  Dowd  were  elected 
in  1844.  In  writing  of  this  time,  or  any  time  in  the 
history  of  a  church,  we  would  like  to  say  that  the 
members  of  it  dwelt  together  in  unity — that  peace 
always  reigned  and  brotherly  love  prevailed.  To  do 
so  of  this  period  and  one  or  two  others  would  not  be 
in  accordance  with  the  records;  but  at  this  date  and 
on  this  occasion  it  would  be  neither  pleasant  nor 
profitable  to  tell  the  tale  of  such  dissensions. 

The  Rev.  Alonzo  Church,  Chancellor  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia,  was  asked  to  come  to  Augusta 
and  preach  to  the  people,  in  the  hope  that  he  might 
reconcile  the  conflicting  parties.  He  came  in  the 
Autumn  of  1845,  and  preached  a  fine  sermon  from  the 
text:  "Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem."  On  the 
6th  of  December  of  the  same  year,  however,  Mr.  Dod 
resigned  his  charge.  Sixty-three  persons  joined  the 
church  under  his  ministry.  He  seems  to  have  been 
an  earnest  man  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties. 

The  Rev,  Ebenezer  Rogers  was  installed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Hopewell  in  December,  1847.  Dr. 
Rogers  was  a  home  missionary  as  well  as  an  able 
speaker.  In  his  day  a  parochial  school  was  begun  and 
carried  on  in  a  room  on  the  upper  part  of  Greene 
Street;  then  a  lot  was  bought  and  a  church  was  built. 
The  dedication  sermon  was  preached  in  May,  1851, 
by  the  chosen  pastor.  Rev.  W.  H.  Thompson.  After 
Mr.  Thompson  came  the  Rev.  W,  S.  Hughes,  who  labored 
faithfully  for  several  years;  but  after  Dr.  Rogers  left 
Augusta  interest  declined,  and  in  1856  the  congrega- 
tion was  disbanded  by  order  of  Presbjrtery,  and  the 


40  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

members  recommended  to  return  to  the  parent  church. 
The  building  thus  deserted  was  turned  over  to  the 
colored  people  and  ultimately  purchased  by  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  denomination  for  $3500. 

It  stands  on  the  original  lot  at  the  comer  of  Greene 
and  Kollock  Streets,  and  is  known  as  Union  Baptist 
Church  (colored).  During  the  war  a  number  of  the 
ladies  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  had  held  a 
school  for  colored  children  in  this  building. 

During  Dr.  Rogers'  ministry  a  parsonage  was  bought. 
It  was  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Greene  Street,  near 
Mcintosh.  This  purchase,  in  connection  with  the  other 
church  property,  gave  the  Presbyterians  in  Augusta 
holdings  to  the  value  of  $40,000  unincumbered.  On 
the  16th  of  October,  1853,  Messrs.  David  L.  Adams 
and  John  Craig  were  ordained  to  the  eldership.  Dr. 
Rogers  resigned  his  charge  in  December,  1853.  He 
was  requested  by  the  congregation  to  -.Teconsider,  but 
declined  to  do  so. 

In  the  Spring  of  1856  the  Rev.  Robert  Irvine,  D.  D., 
of  Hamilton,  Canada  West,  was  asked  to  preach  in  the 
vacant  pulpit.  Feeling  that  an  acceptance  might  be 
construed  into  a  desire  for  change  of  residence  on  his 
part,  he  was  obliged  to  decline.  He  had  then  no 
thought  of  leaving  Canada.  For  five  years  temporary 
pastors  filled  the  pulpit  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church.  Rev.  D.  H.  Porter  and  the  Rev.  Hiram 
Bingham  were  two  of  these.  The  Rev.  John  F.  Baker 
was  called  to  the  church,  and  at  a  later  date  the  Rev. 
John  A.  McClung,  but  both  gentlemen  were  prevented  by 
unforeseen  circumstances  from  accepting  the  pastorate. 

On  the  18th  of  December,  1857,  Rev.  Joseph  R. 
Wilson,  D.  D.,  an  Ohioan  by  birth,  and  then  pastor 
of    a    church    in    Staunton,  Va,  was    called,    and    ac- 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  41 

cepted  the  charge  of  our  church.  He  was  installed 
on  the  second  Sabbath  of  January,  1858.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1860,  the  trustees  and  congregation,  wishing  to 
provide  a  more  commodious  home  for  their  clergy- 
man, the  present  "manse"  was  purchased  from  Mr. 
A.  H.  Jones;  the  house  then  occupied  by  Dr.  Wilson 
was  taken  in  exchange,  and  a  sum  of  $4000  paid 
additionally.  The  following  gentlemen  were  elected 
to  the  eldership  in  1860:  Messrs.  James  W.  Bones, 
Jesse  Ansley,  and  Dr.  Joseph  Jones. 

And  now,  in  the  midst  of  the  mass  of  uninterest- 
ing detail,  incident  to  the  minutes  of  any  society,  be 
it  secular  or  religious,  we  come  to  the  history  of  a  time 
when  the  spirit  of  war  breathed  even  upon  the  dry 
bones  of  Session  records,  and  made  them  leap  bone  to 
bone  until  they  stand  before  us, — live  things,  breath- 
ing the  very  spirit  of  the  times.  On  the  twelfth  day 
of  April,  1861,  the  first  gun  was  fired  at  Fort  Sumter. 
In  May  of  the  same  year  the  General  Assembly  met 
in  the  "City  of  Brotherly  Love,"  and  Rev.  Dr.  Gardner 
Spring,  of  the  Brick  Church,  New  York,  rose  and 
offered  the  famous  resolutions  by  the  adoption  of 
which  secession  became  an  act  of  treason.  It  was  a 
solemn  moment  indeed  for  the  men  of  the  South;  to 
remain  in  the  Assembly  was  impossible;  to  leave  it 
was  to  sever  their  connection  with  the  Church  in 
which  they  had  grown  to  manhood,  to  which  they  were 
attached  by  the  ties  of  long  and  happy  associations;  in 
the  convocation  of  which  they  had  knelt  in  prayer  with 
their  brethren,  and  had  taken  sweet  counsel  with  them. 
The  cause  of  separation  was  not  one  of  faith  but  of 
politics.  In  vain  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Hodge,  of  Prince- 
ton, indorsed  by  fifty-seven  members  of  the  Assem- 
bly, protested  against  a  decision  which  virtually  made 


42  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

a  political  question  a  test  of  Church  membership,  and 
in  doing  so  violated  the  Constitution  of  the  Church 
and  usurped  the  prerogative  of  the  Divine  Master. 
After  the  adoption  of  the  resolution  there  was  no 
course  open  to  the  Presbyterians  of  the  Southern 
States  but  to  say  farewell  to  the  High  Court  of  their 
Church.  They  departed,  to  meet  in  Atlanta  and  ap- 
point delegates  to  a  new  General  Assembly,  which  was 
opened  in  the  building  where  we  sit  to-day. 

Rev.  Dr.  Palmer,  of  New  Orleans,  was  Moderator 
of  that  Assembly;  Rev.  Dr.  Waddell,  Stated  Clerk; 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  R.  Wilson,  Permanent  Clerk.  Rev.  Dr. 
Thorn  well,  that  great  leader  in  the  Church,  as  chair- 
man of  the  committee,  was  requested  to  prepare  an 
address  to  "All  the  churches  of  Jesus  Christ  through- 
out the  earth,"  setting  forth  the  reasons  for  the  South- 
ern Presbyterians  forming  themselves  into  a  body  cor- 
porate and  organic.  Here  is  Dr.  Wilson's  description 
of  the  scene,  written  twenty-five  years  after:  "The 
thrill  of  that  hour  is  upon  me  now.  The  house  was 
thronged — galleries  and  floor.  The  meagre  person  of 
the  intellectual  athlete  (Dr.  Thornwell)  occupied  a 
small  space  in  the  front  of  the  pulpit,  and  so  near 
as  to  gain  from  its  framework  a  partial  support,  for 
even  now  he  felt  the  approach  of  fatal  disease.  Every 
eye  was  upon  him,  and  every  sound  was  hushed  as 
by  a  spell,  whilst  for  forty  historic  minutes  this  Calvin 
of  the  modern  Church  poured  forth  such  a  stream  of 
elevated  utterance  as  he  of  Geneva  never  surpassed, 
his  arguments  being  as  unanswerable  as  they  were 
logically  compact." 

Testimony  indeed,  written  and  oral,  bears  witness 
to  the  fact  that  the  sessions  of  that  Assembly  were 
marked  by  rare  calmness  and  dignity  and  by  the  ab- 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  43 

sence  of  rancor  and  bitterness.  In  reading  of  the 
meetings,  of  the  solemn  addresses  of  Dr.  Palmer  and 
other  clergymen,  one  is  reminded  of  that  great  day 
in  Edinburgh  in  1843,  when  the  Free  Churchmen  of 
Scotland,  with  Dr.  Chalmers  and  Dr.  CandHsh  at  their 
head,  walked  out  of  the  Assembly  of  the  EstabUshed 
Church  and  organized  themselves  into  a  separate  body 
in  Tanfield  Hall.  The  action  taken  by  these  men,  so 
widely  separated  by  time  and  distance,  so  very  near 
in  their  adherence  to  duty  as  they  saw  it,  was  not 
in  either  case  hasty  or  immoderate.  In  both  instances 
it  was  calm  and  deliberate,  the  result  of  prayerftil 
conviction;  the  peace  of  God  had  descended  upon 
them. 

During  the  Summer  of  1863  Dr.  Wilson  served  as 
an  army  chaplain,  acting  under  the  Board  of  Home 
Missions,   then   established  in   Columbia,    S.  C. 

A  very  important  piece  of  missionary  work  in  our 
church  was  begun  in  the  year  1867  and  lasted  with- 
out interruption  till  1872.  This  was  a  sewing  school 
for  children  whose  parents  were  employed  in  the 
Augusta  factory,  and  to  Mrs.  Anne  McKinne  Winter 
we  give  the  appreciation  and  admiration  which  is 
due  the  leader  of  such  a  work. 

Mrs.  Winter  induced  a  number  of  these  children  to 
attend  the  Sunday  school  of  our  church,  then  in- 
vited them  to  come  to  her  home  one  morning  in 
each  week,  and  for  three  hours  Saturday  after  Satur- 
day ;she  and  her  assistants  gave  their  time  and  at- 
tention to  the  little  ones.  They  were  taught  to  sew 
neatly,  and  then  to  cut  out,  and  the  garments  they 
fashioned  were  given  to  them  by  their  instructors. 
Of  the  labor  of  teaching  such  a  class  only  those  who 
have  done  it  can  testify.     Of  the  good  accomplished 


44  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

thereby  there  is  testimony  in  the  church  books  in  the 
names  of  members  who  once  sat  in  Mrs.  Winter's 
library  and  took  their  first  uncertain  stitches,  while 
they  learned  lessons  of  gentleness  and  courage  and 
noble  behavior  from  the  books  one  of  the  teachers 
read  at  intervals  to  them. 

After  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  in  September,  1863, 
our  church  was  used  as  a  hospital  for  several  months, 
the  good  women  of  the  city  giving  their  time  most 
cheerfully  to  the  service  of  the  wounded  men,  and 
providing  such  comforts  as  the  disorganized  conditions 
of  life  permitted.  While  the  interior  of  the  church 
was  being  used  as  a  hospital  for  Confederate  soldiers, 
the  churchyard  was  turned  into  a  sort  of  detention 
camp  for  Northern  prisoners,  who  were  marched  there 
from  the  depot  and  held  till  such  time  as  proved 
convenient  for  their  further  transportation.  The 
church  property  sustained  considerable  damage  during 
those  eventful  days,  and  in  the  report  of  the  trustees' 
meeting  for  1864  we  read:  "The  chairman  presented 
to  the  pew  owners  the  papers  referring  to  the  claims 
against  the  Confederate  Government  for  damages  to 
the  church  while  used  as  a  hospital."  These  claims 
were  adjudged  to  amount  to  $2000,  and  were  settled 
one  year  later  by  Quartermaster  J.  T.  Winnemore.  In 
1867,  however,  the  fence  around  the  churchyard  was 
still  unrepaired,  and  the  estimate  for  replacing  it  with 
a  new  one  amounting  to  $3700,  the  Hon.  B.  H.  War- 
ren very  generously  offered  $2000  as  a  donation  to 
be  used  at  such  time  as  the  trustees  were  prepared 
to  furnish  the  remaining  seventeen  hundred. 

In  the  Summer  of  1870  Dr.  Wilson  resigned  his 
charge  to  accept  the  chair  of  Pastoral  Theology  in 
the   seminary  at  Columbia,   S.  C.     Dr.  Wilson  was   a 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  45 

man  of  literary  tastes — always  a  student — and  left 
many  friends  behind  him  in  Augusta.  His  gifted 
son,  Prof.  Woodrow  Wilson,  is  now  president  of 
Princeton  University. 

In  October,  1870,  Rev.  Robert  Irvine,  D.  D.,  of 
Montreal,  was  asked  to  preach  in  Augusta.  He  ac- 
cepted the  invitation  and  later  on  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  church.  His  installation  took  place 
April  14th,  1872.  The  eldership  now  consisted  of  Messrs. 
D.  L.  Adams,  John  Craig,  C.  A.  Rowland,  and  Porter 
Fleming.  In  the  following  May  Messrs.  J.  W.  Davies, 
Josiah  Sibley,  and  J.  S.  Bean  and  Judge  W.  T.  Gould 
were  elected.  We  have  already  spoken  of  Judge  Gould. 
Besides  being  a  man  of  piety  and  solid  attainments, 
the  judge  loved  a  jest — and  so  did  the  pastor.  The 
congregation  shortly  after  Dr.  Irvine's  installation, 
made  him  a  present  of  a  horse  and  buggy.  The  first 
day  he  drove  in  it.  Judge  Gould  stopped  him.  "Doc- 
tor," he  said,  "I  am  certain  I  saw  that  horse  in  a 
dray  on  Cotton  Row  last  week."  "And  very  credita- 
ble it  is  to  the  horse  if  you  did,"  said  the  Doctor; 
"he  is  rising  according  to  his  merits — just  like  some 
excellent  lawyers  I  have  known." 

Judge  Gould  was  only  one  of  a  notable  body  of 
people  into  whose  faces  Dr.  Irvine  looked  every  Sun- 
day morning  of  that  Winter,  1870-1871.  As  we  think 
about  them  the  "four  and  thirty  years  are  a  mist  that 
rolls  away,"  and  we  see  them  as  they  sat  reverently 
in  their  places.  Shall  we  recall  a  few?  In  the  front 
pew  on  the  left-hand  side  of  the  south  aisle  sat  Mr. 
David  L.  Adams,  an  elder  in  the  church,  bending 
beneath  the  weight  of  years.  Behind  him  Mr.  Porter 
Fleming,  also  an  elder,  with  his  wife  and  family.  Be- 
hind them  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  W.  Coskery  and  Miss 


46  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

Martin — all  devoted  members  of  the  church.  On  the 
opposite  side  of  the  aisle  sat  Mrs.  Henry  Gumming; 
her  brother,  Gen.  Goode  Bryan,  with  his  wife  and 
children.  Several  pews  in  advance  of  them  sat  Mr. 
John  Craig,  for  many  years  an  elder,  and  his  family — 
all  most  active  in  church  work.  In  their  near  neigh- 
borhood sat  the  family  of  Mr.  Harper  Bryson,  repre- 
sentatives of  a  family  well  known  in  the  history  of 
Irish  Presbyterianism.  In  the  centre  aisle  were  the 
pews  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Davis,  their  children  and  grand- 
children; also  the  pews  of  Judge  Gould;  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  W.  A.  Walton;  of  Mrs.  John  Moore,  a  lady  revered 
by  all  who  knew  her,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Walton  and 
the  head  of  a  large  family  circle.  Near  by  were  Colonel 
and  Mrs.  Vason  and  their  family.  On  the  same  aisle 
sat  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Josiah  Sibley  and  their  children — 
married  and  single.  Four  pews  were  owned  then  and 
are  owned  to-day  by  this  family  connection.  Near 
them  sat  Dr.  Henry  Campbell,  afterwards  an  elder 
of  the  church,  of  whose  unaffected  piety  and  intellec- 
tual attainments  much  might  be  written.  By  his  side 
was  Mrs.  Campbell,  of  whom  it  was  said,  "It  is  seldom 
we  find  a  woman  of  such  gentleness  of  manner  and 
such  strength  of  mind  and  character."  Close  by  was 
Mrs.  Savannah  Barrett's  pew,  occupied  by  herself, 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Gould,  and  her  granddaughter, 
afterwards  Mrs.  Jeffries,  and  across  the  aisle  that  of 
her  son,  Mr.  T.  G.  Barrett.  Mrs.  Barrett  was  a  woman 
of  much  independence  of  thought  and  action;  the 
most  faithful  of  friends — the  noblest  of  foes.  High 
up  in  the  church  sat  Mr.  Robert  Campbell,  of  whom 
we  have  already  spoken.  On  the  left-hand  aisle  we 
remember  the  Berckmans  family;  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Ward- 
law — and  we  remember  the  long  years  of  the  Doctor's 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  47 

faithful  service  as  an  elder  in  the  church.  We  see 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  North,  with  their  sons  and  daugh- 
ters; Dr.  and  Mrs.  James  B.  Walker,  the  united  head 
of  a  large  and  influential  family  connection — we  can 
testify  to  the  esteem  in  which  this  couple  were 
held  by  the  community,  and  to  the  fact  that  Mrs. 
Walker,  gentle  and  lovely  in  life,  added  to  the  virtues 
of  the  contemplative  Mary,  those  of  her  sister  Martha. 
While  this  lady,  so  endeared  to  many  of  us,  still  en- 
joyed a  full  measure  of  health  and  strength,  it  was 
her  pleasure  to  take  a  most  active  part  in  the  work 
of  the  church.  She  called  on  every  member  of  it  once 
during  the  year.  Near  the  Walker  pew  sat  Mr.  Robert 
Reid,  of  whom  we  shall  hear  later,  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  James  Miller — always  kind  and  sincere,  and  like 
Nathaniel  of  old,  "in  whom  there  was  no  guile."  On 
the  left-hand  aisle  we  see  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alfred  Baker 
and  their  daughter,  and  we  remember  Mr.  Baker's 
generous  gifts  to  the  church  and  Mrs.  Baker's  many 
deeds  of  kindness  when  her  "right  hand  knew  not 
what  her  left  hand  did."  Near  by  sat  Mr.  J.  W. 
Davies,  an  elder,  and  his  wife,  and  we  see  Mrs. 
Whitehead  and  her  family — all  devoted  church  people, 
and  Mrs.  Winter  and  her  daughters.  Then  there 
are  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Wilberforce  Damiel,  the  Butt 
family,  the  Wilcox  family;  Major  and  Mrs.  W.  F.  Alex- 
ander, and  our  eyes  grow  dim  as  we  call  to  mind  "Miss 
Lucy,"  so  warm  of  heart — so  brilliant  of  mind,  and, 
alas!  so  frail  of  body!  There  are  many  others,  among 
whom  we  recall  the  loyal  and  devoted  Col.  John  Davi- 
son, but  time  and  space  forbid  us  to  linger  any  longer. 
The  great  majority  of  these  have  gone  from  us,  but  to 
you  who  remain, we  say  to-day,  "Call  back  your  ancient 
thoughts   from  banishment,"  and  tell  us,  was  not  that 


48  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

a  goodly  assemblage  of  people  who  gathered  together 
in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  on  Sunday  morning 
so  many  years  ago? 

Dr.  Irvine  had  been  trained  in  the  Scotch  school  of 
church  government,  and  by  his  wish  the  office  of  the 
diaconate  was  established.  The  following  gentlemen 
were  the  first  to  serve:  J.  G.  Bailie,  L.  C.  Warren,  J.  W. 
Wallace,  W.  H.  Warren,  W.  C.  Jessup,  M.  A.  Stovall, 
and  W.  T.  Wheless.  Two  years  later  the  following 
names  were  added  to  the  list:  W.  C.  Sibley,  J.  U.  Ans- 
ley,  J.  Tilkey,  A.  S.  Campbell,  O.  M.  Stone,  and  Alfred 
Baker.  From  this  time  forward  Mr.  Baker  was  a 
prominent  figure  in  church  affairs,  and  one  of  the 
present  office  bearers  has  written  thus  of  him:  "Mr. 
Baker,  as  a  deacon  and  trustee  of  the  church,  was  for 
many  years  one  of  our  most  valued  members.  He 
was  an  active  and  prime  mover  in  the  purchase  of  the 
magnificent  pipe  organ  that  now  adorns  the  church." 

In  the  year  1873  Mr.  Robert  Campbell,  of  whom  we 
have  spoken  in  connection  with  earlier  days,  died,  and 
left  a  legacy  to  the  church  of  $2000,  "on  condition 
that  two  pews,  eligibly  situated,  should  be  set  apart 
for  the  use  of  strangers,  and  that  a  plate  stating  that 
John  Wilson,  Jr.,  a  native  of  Ireland,  had  presented 
two  pews  for  the  above  purpose  to  the  trustees,"  shall 
be  placed  in  each  of  them. 

One  of  the  most  flourishing  institutions  of  the  church 
at  the  time  of  Dr.  Irvine's  arrival  was  the  Ladies' 
Sewing  Society.  In  the  early  days  there  had  been  a 
circle  bearing  the  same  name,  of  which  Mrs.  John 
Force,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  William  Piatt,  was  presi- 
dent, and  of  which  Mrs.  John  Craig,  Mrs.  Benjamin 
Simms,  and  other  ladies  were  active  members.  This 
older  society  is  said  to  have  furnished  the  money  for 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  49 

the  education  of  the  late  Alexander  Stephens  when 
he  was  in  training  for  the  Church,  and  when  he  chose 
law  as  his  profession  he  is  said  to  have  refunded  every 
dollar.  In  Mr.  Stephens'  Life,  however,  he  makes  the 
following  statement:  "The  result  of  the  consultation 
was  that  I  should  go  to  college  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Georgia  Educational  Society  for  the  Training 
of  Presbyterian  Ministers,  and  if,  after  graduation,  I 
should  not  feel  it  my  duty  to  preach  the  Gospel,  I 
should  refund  the  money  expended  on  my  education. 
After  I  had  been  in  college  for  two  years  I  borrowed 
from  my  brother  enough  to  relieve  me  of  all  obliga- 
tion to  the  Educational  Society,  refunding,  with  inter- 
est, all  that  they  had  advanced  for  me." 

It  is  quite  reconcilable  with  these  statements,  how- 
ever, that  the  early  sewing  society  did  furnish  the 
money,  as  commonly  believed.  They  may  have  con- 
tributed it  to  the  Educational  Society,  and  it,  in  turn, 
applied  the  funds  to  the  education  of  the  embryo 
statesman  and  Governor.  The  sewing  society  rendered 
the  same  service  to  the  Rev.  Owen  P.  Fitzsimmons; 
but  to  give  a  list  of  the  work  accomplished  by  that 
society  would  require  a  separate  article.  The  presi- 
dent in  1871  was  Mrs.  Elizabeth  McKinne.  Among 
the  most  efficient  workers  were  Mrs.  A.  C.  Ives,  after- 
wards Mrs.  Newberry;  the  Misses  Craig;  Mrs.  Josiah 
Sibley,  who  succeeded  Mrs.  McKinne  as  president; 
Mrs.  Whitehead,  Mrs.  John  K.  Jackson,  Mrs.  Caswell, 
Mrs.  G.  H.  Jackson,  Mrs.  George  Fargo,  Mrs.  Robert 
Fleming,  and  many  others.  Mrs.  Amos  Whitehead, 
daughter  of  Mrs.  McKinne,  earnest,  faithful,  loving 
her  church  and  its  work  better  than  she  loved  herself, 
was  for  years  president  of  this  society.  Mrs.  Caswell 
was  the  presiding  officer  in  1891-2. 


50  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

With  her  well-known  executive  ability  and  un- 
bounded energy,  she  undertook  the  management  of  a 
large  and  handsome  entertainment,  which  proved  a 
brilliant  success,  and  the  proceeds  of  which  amounted 
to  several  hundred  dollars.  But  we  must  return  to 
the  early  seventies.  The  attention  of  the  society  at 
that  time  was  directed  to  a  movement  then  existing, 
the  object  of  which  was  the  building  of  an  up-town 
mission  church.  Several  entertainments  were  given  by 
the  society  and  the  receipts  appropriated  to  the  mis- 
sion fund,  which  rapidly  increased.  A  lot  on  upper 
Greene  Street  was  purchased  and  a  church  erected, 
the  total  expense  involving  an  outlay  of  $5316. 

The  building  was  dedicated  March  1st,  1879,  by  the 
Rev.  W.  S.  Plumer,  D.  D.  The  congregation  worship- 
ing there  very  shortly  decided  that  the  time  had 
come  to  form  themselves  into  a  separate  body.  They 
rented  the  building  for  a  very  small  sum,  called  a 
pastor,  and  two  years  later  Mr.  Josiah  Sibley  paid 
the  sum  of  $2000  to  the  trustees  of  the  First  Church, 
which  amount  was  accepted  by  them  as  payment  in 
full  for  the  property. 

In  1873  a  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  the 
lower  part  of  town,  in  a  building  given  by  Mr.  Josiah 
Sibley  for  that  purpose.  Mr.  Sibley's  gifts  to  the 
cause  of  Presbyterianism  were  numerous  and  munifi- 
cent. This  down-town  mission  was  known  as  the 
Riverside  School,  exists  to-day,  and  has  been  a  bless- 
ing to  many. 

In  1876,  at  the  death  of  Mr.  Robert  Reid,  the 
church  came  into  possession  of  property  amounting 
to  $17,500.  This  handsome  legacy  was  to  be  used, 
according  to  the  terms  of  Mr.  Reid's  will,  for  the 
building  of  a  Presbyterian  church  on  the  corner  of  his 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  51 

lot  in  Summerville.  The  trustees  of  the  fund  were 
Mr.  Thomas  W.  Coskery,  Mr.  James  Davies,  and  Mr. 
William  A.  Walton.  After  the  building  was  com- 
pleted, $7000  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  trustees. 
There  were  then  only  two,  Mr.  Coskery  and  Mr. 
Alfred  Baker,  who  had  taken  the  place  of  Mr.  Davies. 
Mr.  Walton's  place  was  not  filled.  By  good  manage- 
ment and  careful  investment  this  fund  has  increased 
and  to-day  amounts  to  $20,000. 

In  1879  the  Rev.  Dr.  Irvine  was  authorized  to 
obtain  the  services  of  the  Rev.  W.  S.  Bean  for  the 
supply  of  the  Reid  Memorial  pulpit.  The  next  year 
the  leadership  of  a  weekly  prayer  meeting  at  the  Riv- 
erside Chapel  was  added  to  Mr.  Bean's  labors.  After 
the  removal  of  Mr.  Bean  to  another  field  the  Rev. 
W.  E.  Boggs,  D.  D.,  undertook  the  Home  Missionary 
work  of  our  church,  which  consisted  then  of  weekly 
services  at  the  Reid  Memorial  and  of  the  supervision 
of  a  Sunday  school  which  had  been  organized  in  the 
factory  district.  Ground  and  buildings  were  ahke  the 
gift  of  Mr.  Wilham  C.  Sibley,  the  president  of  the 
Sibley  Mills.  In  later  years  the  Rev.  N.  Keff  Smith 
labored  in  this  field,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
R.  L.  Fulton. 

These  years  were  an  era  of  expansion  in  the  his- 
tory of  Presbyterianism  in  Augusta.  The  Sibley  Mis- 
sion is  now  the  Sibley  Presbyterian  Church,  having 
been  organized  July  2d,  1891.  The  Reid  Memorial 
and  the  Riverside  Mission  are  still  under  the  super- 
vision of  our  church. 

But  we  must  again  take  up  the  history  of  Dr. 
Irvine's  pastorate.  In  1876  Mrs.  Davis,  wife  of  the 
Rev.  S.  S.  Davis,  died.  In  all  the  records  of  the  hun- 
dred years  there  are  only  two  women  who  have  been 


52  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

memorialized  by  the  Session  of  our  church.  Mrs.  Davis 
is  one  of  them.  Two  closely-written  pages  testify  in 
touching  language  to  the  gifts  and  graces  of  this  lady, 
who  for  "more  than  fifty  years  led  a  holy  and  con- 
sistent life  in  our  midst." 

In  August  of  the  following  year  Rev.  Dr.  Davis 
died.  A  tablet  in  the  vestibule  of  the  church  tells  of 
the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  congregation 
and  the  community.  In  1879  Dr.  H.  F.  Campbell 
and  Dr.  W.  C.  Wardlaw  were  elected  to  the  ofhce  of 
Elder,  and  duly  ordained  June  the  2 2d.  In  the  month 
of  June,  1880,  Rev.  Dr.  Irvine  was  invited  to  occupy 
his  former  pulpit  in  Montreal  for  the  Sabbaths  of  July 
and  August.  His  habitually  fine  health  had  given 
way;  perhaps  the  change  from  the  climate  of  Canada 
to  that  of  Georgia  had  been  too  much  for  a  man  of  his 
age.  He  had  worked  incessantly  for  nine  years.  Early 
and  late  he  was  at  the  call  of  his  parishioners.  He 
wrote  two  sermons  a  week,  because  "it  was  easier," 
he  said,  "to  give  them  something  new  than  to  get  his 
mind  back  into  the  old  channel."  He  had  many  sor- 
rows, and  the  strain  on  mind,  body,  and  heart  was  too 
much  for  the  strong  man.  In  1880  an  attack  of  broken- 
bone  fever  prostrated  him.  One  day  he  arose  from 
his  bed  to  administer  to  a  parishioner  because  he  had 
promised  her  to  pray  with  her  as  she  passed  through 
the  "dark  valley."  It  was  almost  the  last  act  of  his 
ministerial  life.  He  lingered  through  the  Winter, 
suffering  much  at  times;  and  on  the  6th  of  April,  1881, 
desperate  illness  seized  him.  On  the  morning  of  the 
8th  he  died.  On  Sunday,  the  10th,  there  was  a  great 
outpouring  of  the  people — the  whole  city,  it  is  said, 
gathered  into  a  vast  congregation  to  pay  respect  and 
honor  to  him  who  had  gone  from  them.     There  were 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  53 

very  impressive  services  in  the  church,  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Jones  officiating,  and  then  the  mortal  remains  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Robert  Irvine  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  shadow  of 
the  church  he  loved  so  well.  The  marble  statue  erected 
by  the  congregation  marks  the  spot.  Sermons  of  his 
particularly  remembered  are  from  the  words:  "Grapes 
of  Eshcol,"  and  one  from  the  text:  "The  effectual  fer- 
vent prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much."  Dur- 
ing the  ministry  of  Dr.  Irvine  three  hundred  and 
eighty-one  persons  were  admitted  to  the  church. 

One  of  Dr.  Irvine's  gifted  and  beloved  elders  wrote 
thus  of  his  work  among  this  people,  whom  he  loved 
and  desired  to  serve  until  he  received  the  call  to  "Come 
up  higher":  "Of  Dr.  Irvine's  labors  in  Augusta,  it 
can  be  said  that  they  were  signalized  by  the  same  re- 
markable results  which  attended  his  ministrations 
from  the  taking  charge  of  his  first  church  at  Bally- 
nahinch,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven,  to  his  last,  in 
Augusta,  in  the  ripeness  of  his  power,  at  fifty.  It 
has  been  seen  that,  wherever  he  went,  feeble  and  de- 
pleted congregations  were  reanimated — handfuls  swell- 
ing into  multitudes — while  churches  calling  him  in  a 
state  of  prosperity,  grew  still  larger  and  more  prosper- 
ous under  his  splendid  pulpit  eloquence  and  wonder- 
ful magnetic  power.  Every  one  caught  the  fire  of 
his  heaven-given  activity  and  energy,  and  wherever  he 
appeared,  he  incited  in  the  hearts  of  men  the  desire  to 
give — to  contribute  their  energy,  their  influence,  their 
money  to  advance  the  great  cause  he  represented,  and 
which  had  taken  such  powerful  and  beautiful  posses- 
sion of  his  entire  being,  and  the  light  of  which  shone 
like  a  glory  in  all  the  atmosphere  around  him." 

Within  a  few  months  after  the  death  of  Dr.  Irvine 
a   movement   was   inaugurated   for   the   erection   of  a 


54  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

suitable  monument  to  his  memory.  A  marble  statue 
with  a  handsome  base  was  decided  upon,  and  the  work 
was  entrusted  to  C.  F.  Kohlruss.  On  the  sixteenth 
day  of  January,  1884,  the  unveiling  of  the  monument 
took  place.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Bennet,  an  intimate  friend 
of  Dr.  Irvine,  had  been  invited  to  come  from  St.  John, 
New  Brunswick,  to  make  the  address.  He  was  assisted 
in  the  services  by  the  Rev.  John  Jones,  D.D.,  and  other 
clergymen.  After  the  ceremonies  in  the  church  were 
concluded,  the  monument  was  unveiled  by  the  hand 
of  Dr.  Irvine's  little  granddaughter,  Elizabeth  Mary 
Branch,  and  a  beautiful  and  touching  address  was  made 
by  the  devoted  friend  of  Dr.  Irvine,  the  late  Dr.  Henry 
F.  Campbell.  After  the  death  of  Dr.  Irvine  the  pulpit 
remained  vacant  until  April,  1882,  when  the  Rev. 
William  Adams,  D.D.,  was  called  from  Louisville,  Ky. 
He  was  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Augusta,  May 
28th,    1882. 

In  December  of  the  same  year  an  election  of  elders 
took  place.  Messrs.  Josiah  Sibley,  C.  A.  Rowland,  and 
Porter  Fleming  had  united  with  the  Second  Church 
in  1879,  and  Mr.  James  Davis  had  died  in  September, 
1880.  A  memorial  to  the  latter,  testifying  to  the 
respect  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  church  and  to  the 
faithful  services  he  rendered,  is  preserved  in  the  rec- 
ords. The  gentlemen  elected  in  1882  were  Messrs. 
L.  Flisch,  John  W.  Wallace,  William  Adams,  W.  C. 
Sibley,  F.  M.  Stovall,  and  O.  M.  Stone. 

The  new  deacons  elected  were  Dr.  A.  H.  Baker, 
J.  S.  Bean,  Jr.,  Messrs.  W.  A.  Garrett,  C.  F.  McQueen, 
and  one  year  later  Mr.  J.  S.  Davant.  On  the  twenty- 
fifth  day  of  April,  1883,  a  sum  of  $36,509  was  turned 
over  to  the  trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
being  a   legacy   according   to   the    will  of   Miss  Mary 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  55 

Telfair,  who  died  in  the  year  1876.  Litigation  had 
ensued,  and  seven  years  had  elapsed  before  principal 
and  interest  came  into  the  hands  of  our  trustees. 

The  conditions  of  the  will  required  that  the  build- 
ing erected  with  the  money  so  generously  bequeathed, 
should  be  used  for  Sunday-school  purposes,  and  should 
stand  on  a  portion  of  the  lot  the  centre  of  which  is 
occupied  by  the  church  itself.  There  was  great  ex- 
citement in  those  days,  for — 

"  The  trees 
Which  whisper  'round  a  temple,  become  soon 
Dear  as  the  temple  itself," 

and  to  some  of  the  members  of  the  church  it  seemed 
almost  sacrilege  to  lay  the  axe  to  the  roots  of  any  of 
them.  There  was  no  evading  the  terms  of  the  will, 
however — the  building  must  go  up  in  the  church- 
yard, or  not  go  up  at  all;  and  on  Sunday,  June  22d, 
1884,  the  dedication  services  were  held.  To  Mr, 
Alfred  Baker,  at  that  time  Chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  and  acting  Chairman  of  the  Building  Com- 
mittee, and  to  his  successor,  Gen.  M.  A.  Stovall, 
much  credit  was  due  for  the  prompt  and  satisfactory 
manner  in   which   the   work   was   accomplished. 

The  following  gentlemen  served  at  different  times 
on  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  church  :  Messrs. 
George  M.  Thew,  J.  S.  Bean,  Sr.,  W.  A.  Walton,  T.  P. 
Branch,  R.  A.  Fleming,  John  D.  Butt,  J.  T.  Newberry, 
James  W.  Moore,  M.  A.  Stovall,  and,  in  more  recent 
years,  J.  L.  Fleming,  W.  F.  Alexander,  William  Crans- 
ton, Alfred  Baker,  and  others.  In  the  year  1882  a 
legacy  of  a  thousand  dollars,  in  accordance  with  a 
provision  of  the  will  of  Mrs.  Henry  Cumming,  widow 
of  Col.  Henry  Cumming,  was  received. 


56  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

In  May,  1886,  the  General  Assembly  held  their 
quarter-centennial  meeting  in  our  church.  Dr.  Ray- 
mond, of  Texas,  the  retiring  Moderator,  preached  the 
opening  sermon  from  the  words:  "Stand  ye  in  the 
ways,  and  see,  and  ask  for  the  old  paths,  and  walk 
therein,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  for  your  souls."  Jer. 
vi.  16.  On  the  platform  were  Dr.  Farris,  Perma- 
nent Clerk;  Dr.  Wilson,  Stated  Clerk;  Dr.  J.  N.  Wad- 
dell,  Dr.  T.  W.  Hooper,  of  Alabama,  and  Dr.  Adams, 
of  Augusta.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Bryson  was  elected  Mod- 
erator. On  the  evening  of  Friday,  May  21st,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Palmer  gave  a  most  brilliant  address  on  "The 
Church:  a  Spiritual  Kingdom."  The  sessions  of  this 
Assembly  were  chiefly  occupied  by  a  discussion  of  the 
celebrated  Woodrow  case.  Dr.  James  Woodrow  was  at 
that  time  Professor  of  Apologetics  and  Natural  Science 
at  Columbia,  S.  C.  His  openly-expressed  views  on 
the  subject  of  evolution  were  held  to  be  unsound  by 
many  of  his  brethren.  The  meetings  of  the  Assembly 
were  largely  attended,  and  great  interest  was  mani- 
fested.    The  case  was  decided  against  Dr.  Woodrow. 

A  delightful  feature  of  the  Assembly  was  the  quar- 
ter-centennial address  by  Dr.  J.  R.  Wilson,  from  which 
we  have  already  quoted,  and  which  was  listened  to 
with  the  greatest  interest  by  a  large  congregation. 
Before  the  close  of  the  Assembly  a  reception  was  ten- 
dered to  its  members  by  our  congregation,  and  was 
held  in  the  Telfair  Building. 

In  the  years  1884  and  1887  the  following  gentlemen 
were  elected  deacons:  In  1884,  Messrs.  W.  H.  Wallace, 
J.  B.  Moore,  W.  J.  Cranston,  and  Dr.  George  A.Wilcox; 
in  1887,  Messrs.  J.  B.  Preston,  J.  W.  Moore,  C.  P. 
Pressly,  and  Donald  Fraser.  The  year  1887  was 
marked  by  a  financial  crisis  in  our  church.     For  sev- 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  57 

eral  years  there  had  been  a  shrinkage  in  the  receipts 
from  pew  rents.  Repairs  had  been  necessary  in  church 
and  parsonage,  and  the  result  was  that  from  a  floating 
debt  of  $1000  the  church's  liability  had  increased  to 
$11,000.  There  seemed  to  be  no  alternative  but  to 
execute  a  mortgage  and  bond  the  church;  indeed, 
such  was  the  advice  of  many  of  the  best  business 
men  in  town.  The  necessary  papers  were  drawn  up 
and  would  have  gone  into  effect  in  a  week's  time, 
when  a  protest  against  the  action  (of  the  pew  holders) 
was  made  by  Mr.  Alfred  Baker.  He,  with  one  or  two 
other  gentlemen,  went  before  the  Ladies'  Sewing  So- 
ciety in  the  Telfair  Building,  "entreating  those  present 
to  assist  him  in  influencing  the  members  of  the  church 
to  pay  the  debt,  and  not  to  allow  the  property  to  be 
mortgaged."  Mr.  Baker  then  offered  to  head  a  sub- 
scription for  this  purpose  with  a  donation  of  $1000. 
This  sum  he  afterwards  increased  to  $1250.  "Two 
noble  women,"  says  an  officer  in  the  church,  "Mrs. 
James  Moore  and  Mrs.  W.  C.  Sibley,  agreed  to  use 
their  influence  in  the  matter."  Together  they  made 
an  individual  appeal  to  every  member  of  the  church 
whom  it  was  possible  to  reach.  With  unbounded  ear- 
nestness and  full  of  zeal  for  the  cause,  their  efforts 
were  crowned  with  the  most  remarkable  success.  The 
money  was  given  readily,  gladly,  and  bountifully. 

The  story  of  that  collection  reads  like  the  fourth 
chapter  of  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles.  Everybody  gave; 
one  gentleman,  Col.  C.  H.  Phinizy,  who  was  not  even 
a  regular  attendant,  subscribed  $250.  Men  who  were 
members,  and  whose  worldly  affairs  had  prospered,  gave 
sums  varying  from  one  to  five  and  six  hundred  dollars. 
And  it  was  all  done  with  alacrity — they  were  cheerful 
givers ;  in  not  one  case  did  the  shadow  of  unwillingness 


58  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

cloud  the  gift.  In  a  little  more  than  three  weeks  from 
the  date  of  Mr.  Baker's  visit  to  the  sewing  society  the 
ladies  reported  to  him  that  they  had  completed  the 
work;  they  had  seen  every  person  whose  name  had 
been  found  on  the  list.  Their  success  had  been  remark- 
able, and  including  the  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church,  they  had  on  hand  $9200. 
On  the  following  Sunday  Dr.  Adams  asked  the  con- 
gregation to  remain  and  explained  the  situation  fully. 
Mr.  Alfred  Baker  rose,  and  increased  his  subscrip- 
tion'^by  $250,  making  a  total  of  $1250.  Mr.  George 
Sibley,  Mr.  William  Sibley,  Mrs.  Annie  Bryson  Fargo, 
Mr.  T.  P.  Branch,  and  many  others  followed  in  quick 
succession.  Once  there  was  a  moment's  pause,  and 
a  very  young  voice  came  from  a  pew  on  the  right- 
hand  side  of  the  east  aisle:  "I  gave  twenty-five  cents, 
and  I  will  make  it  fifty."  McKinne  Robertson,  aged 
ten,  a  grandson  of  Mrs.  Winter,  was  the  speaker.  It 
was  a  case  of  the  little  child  leading  them,  and  before 
the  congregation  dispersed  the  $1800  had  been  given 
and  the  church  was  free  of  debt.  On  the  suggestion 
of  Mr.  Baker  a  framed  acknowledgment  of  what  they 
had  accomplished,  and  of  the  appreciation  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  and  Session,  was  sent  to  each  of  the 
ladies.  Except  for  Mr.  Baker's  timely  intervention 
at  a  critical  moment,  and  the  subsequent  efforts  of 
Mrs.  Moore  and  Mrs.  Sibley,  the  property  would  cer- 
tainly have  been  mortgaged. 

In  1888,  during  the  great  freshet,  the  cellar  of  the 
church  was  flooded  and  a  portion  of  the  fence  washed 
away.  The  injury  was  not  serious,  and  was  quickly 
repaired.  On  the  9th  of  December,  1888,  Dr.  Adams 
resigned.  Sermons  of  his  which  have  been  specially 
remembered   are:   one    from   the    words    "Foxes    have 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  59 

holes,"  &c.,  and  one  from  the  remarkable  text:  "Some 
on  boards."     Acts  xxvii.  44. 

On  Sunday,  January  19th,  1890,  a  meeting  of  the 
communicating  members  of  the  church  was  held  for 
the  purpose  of  electing  a  successor  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Adams.  The  name  of  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Plunket,  D.  D., 
was  presented  by  Mr.  William  J.  Cranston.  Dr.  Plun- 
ket was  unanimously  elected  by  a  rising  vote.  Much 
to  the  dehght  of  the  congregation,  Dr.  Plunket  ac- 
cepted the  call,  the  sending  of  which,  properly  in- 
dorsed by  the  Session  and  the  members  of  the  church, 
followed  closely  on  the  congregational  meeting. 

Dr.  Plunket  preached  his  first  sermon  as  pastor- 
elect  on  Sunday  morning,  March  16th,  from  II.  Chron- 
icles vi.  19,  20.  The  eldership  consisted  at  the  time 
of  Dr.  Plunket's  arrival  of  the  following  gentlemen: 
Messrs.  W.  C.  Sibley,  L.  Flisch,  O.  M.  Stone,  Drs.  A.  H. 
Baker,  H.  F.  Campbell,  W.  C.  Wardlaw,  George  A.  Wil- 
cox, and  Mr.  F.  M.  Stovall. 

In  June,  1890,  Messrs.  Felix  Alexander,  E.  J.  Hickey, 
W.  J.  Craig,  and  Julian  S.  Sibley  were  elected  to  the 
diaconate.  In  the  same  year  the  trustees  again  found 
themselves  confronted  with  serious  financial  embar- 
rassment. It  was  suggested  that  the  following  ladies 
should  be  called  in  to  the  assistance  of  the  trustees: 
Mrs.  Harriet  Gould,  Mrs.  S.  M.  Whitney,  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Moore,  Mrs.  John  D.  Butt,  and  Mrs.  W.  C.  Sibley. 
These  ladies  and  their  successors,  year  by  year,  by 
Mr.  Baker's  suggestion,  were  to  be  elected  on  the 
Board  and  formally,  as  trustees,  were  to  undertake  a 
portion  of  the  collection.  The  ladies  expressed  a  will- 
ingness to  make  the  experiment,  and  for  two  years 
they  rendered  most  valuable  assistance.  At  the  end 
of  that  time,  for  satisfactory  reasons,  they  felt  obhged 


60  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

to  abandon  the  work  they  had  accomplished  so  suc- 
cessfully. In  1892  the  second  memorial  to  a  woman 
is  found  on  the  records.  In  this  instance  the  subject 
of  the  testimonial  is  Mrs.  William  Adams,  the  wife 
of  the  former  pastor.  Her  many  virtues  are  well  re- 
membered in  Augusta. 

In  the  same  year  a  Committee  on  Music  was  ap- 
pointed, with  authority  to  raise  special  subscriptions 
for  choir  purposes,  to  nominate  singers,  and  under 
the  direction  of  Session,  to  exercise  a  general  super- 
vision of  the  choir.  In  1895  Miss  Pamela  Robertson, 
the  leader,  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health.  Her 
pure  soprano  voice  always  delighted  our  ears,  and  it 
was  a  genuine  grief  to  the  members  of  the  church 
to  know  that  her  days  on  earth  were  numbered. 
Gentle  and  lovely  in  life,  she  was  sincerely  mourned 
in  death  by  all  who  knew  her.  A  great  deal  of  atten- 
tion has  been  given  to  our  church  music  in  the  last 
twelve  years.  Mrs.  J.  Miller  Walker,  first  known 
among  us  as  Miss  Hyde,  has  been  of  great  assistance 
as  a  skilled  musician,  and  is  also  an  interested  mem- 
ber of  the  church.  The  present  choir  is  under  the 
management  of  Professor  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Battle. 
Mr.  Stone  is  the  only  member  of  the  original  choir  of 
1870  whose  voice  is  still  heard  in  the  church.  His 
music  and  his  faithful  attendance  these  many  years 
are  genuinely  appreciated  by  the  congregation. 

In  the  year  1891  Dr.  Plunket,  as  pastor,  secured, 
by  the  exercise  of  wisdom  and  tact,  a  revision  of  the 
charter  of  the  church  which  has  proven  far-reaching 
in  its  effects.  By  this  revision  all  confusion  as 
to  scope  of  authority  or  function  between  the  Session, 
the  diaconate  and  the  trustees  has  been  corrected. 
To  the  church  Session  is  now  committed  the  spiritual 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  61 

government  of  the  church;  the  diaconate  is  especially 
charged  with  the  care  of  the  poor,  and  to  it  is  also 
committed  the  management  of  the  temporal  affairs 
of  the  church  under  the  direction  of  the  Session ;  while 
the  trustees  have  become  the  representatives  at  law 
of  the  church  as  a  civil  corporation. 

In  1894  a  new  society  was  organized,  or  rather  a  very 
old  one  was  revived.    Dr.  Plunket  is  a  firm  believer  in 
doing  the  duty  that  lies  nearest.     Observing  the  gen- 
eral spiritual  destitution  within  the  bounds  of  Augusta 
Presbytery,  he  saw  the  need  of  home  missionary  work. 
A  Home  Missionary  Society  was  formed,  and  for  ten 
years  has  been  doing  active  work  in  localities  where 
religious    destitution    formerly   prevailed.     Mrs.    Moses 
Wadley,  the  president,  infuses  something  of   her  own 
zeal  and  earnestness  into  every  member  of  the  society, 
and  the  meetings  are  most  interesting  occasions.     Hun- 
dreds of  papers  and  magazines  are  distributed  through- 
out the  bounds  of  our  Presbytery  by  the  agency  of 
this    society,    and    traveling    libraries    are    sent    from 
point  to  point.     Perhaps  the  increased  interest  in  this 
cause  can  best  be  shown  by  the  fact  that  the  amount  of 
money  collected  in  our  church  for  Home  Missions  has 
increased  from  $338  in  1893  to  $812  in  1903.     Interest 
in  Foreign  Missions  has  shown  a  remarkable  develop- 
ment during  the  last  decade.     The  Extra  Cent-a-Day 
Band  has  been  organized,  having  for  its  special  object 
the  entire  support  of  our  missionary,  Miss  Lizzie  Flem- 
ing.    Miss  Fleming  has  been  at  work  for  twelve  years 
m  Soochow,  China,  where  she  is  still  engaged.     Mrs. 
Brown,  the   efficient   president  of  the  Ladies'  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  for  many  years,  was  obliged  to  re- 
sign some  months  ago,  and  Mrs.  Oswell  R.  Eve  is  ably 
fining  her  place.     This  society  is  one  of  the  most  im- 


62  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

portant  branches  of  church  work,  and  the  interest  in  it 
has  been  evenly  sustained  for  many  years.  The  Pas- 
tor's Aid  Society,  organized  during  Dr.  Adams'  pastor- 
ate, and  reorganized  and  broadened  in  the  sphere  of 
its  duties  by  Dr.  Plunket,  does  practically  whatever 
is  left  undone  by  any  body  or  any  other  society  in 
the  church. 

There  is  a  room  at  the  hospital  to  be  cared  for;  the 
poor  of  the  church  to  be  looked  after,  and  a  number 
of  important  matters  to  be  attended  to  which  might  be 
called  "incidentals."  Mrs.  Julia  Scales  was  president 
of  the  society  for  many  years,  rendering  faithful  and 
efficient  service.  Mrs.  J.  W.  Moore,  the  president,  and 
Mrs.  William  A.  Reid,  the  vice-president,  and  her  corps 
of  assistants  are  never  idle.  The  Sunday  school  is  under 
the  care  of  Maj.  George  P.  Butler,  and  it  may  truth- 
fully be  said  that  he  and  his  teachers  are  absolutely  in 
sympathy  with  each  other,  and  that  all  are  working 
together  for  the  highest  development  of  the  children — 
mentally  and  spiritually.  There  is  a  Cradle  Roll  for 
the  babies  who  are  too  small  to  come.  There  are  four 
departments  and  a  Bible  class.  The  Primary  Depart- 
ment has  been  under  the  care  of  Mrs.  John  Wallace 
for  many  years.  A  special  feature  of  the  school  is 
the  attention  given  to  memorizing  the  church  cate- 
chisms and  portions  of  the  Scripture.  Last  year  a 
hundred  children  committed  to  memory  an  average 
of  three  chapters  each. 

The  Sunday  school  of  our  church  has  been  particu- 
larly favored  in  its  superintendents.  Mr.  John  Wallace 
was  a  fine  officer  and  labored  for  twenty-five  years 
to  keep  the  Sunday  school  up  to  the  highest  mark. 
The  mural  decorations  on  the  Telfair  Building  testify 
to  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  children 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  63 

and  officers.     Mr.  Wallace  was  followed  by  Mr.   B.   F. 
Brown,  who  served  most  faithfully  for  several  years. 

In  November,  1894,  Messrs.  W.  A.  Garrett  and  W.  H. 
Warren  were  elected  to  the  eldership,  and  Messrs. 
George  P.  Butler  and  H.  A.  Flisch  to  the  same  office 
on  December  16th,  1900.  On  March  19th,  1899,  Messrs. 
H.  A.  Brahe,  H.  A.  Flisch,  R.  A.  Brand,  H.  G.  Mc- 
Laws,  J.  Miller  Walker,  and  C.  E.  Whitney  were  elected 
deacons.  These  gentlemen  have  been  most  unwearied 
in  their  labors,  and  theirs  is  the  satisfaction  of  know- 
ing that  they  have  the  cordial  appreciation  of  the 
people  in  their  efforts  to  maintain  the  present  excellent 
financial  condition  of  the  church.  The  Young  People's 
Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  was  organized  in  the 
Telfair  Building  October  22d,  1892.  The  first  presi- 
dent of  the  society  was  Mr.  George  Bryan;  the  vice- 
president,  Miss  Lizzie  Lou  Walker,  after  whose  la- 
mented death  the  position  was  filled  by  Miss  Mary 
R.  Campbell.  The  most  important  work  of  the  soci- 
ety in  the  last  few  years  has  been  done  in  the  factory 
district.  It  has  contributed  largely  to  the  support 
of  the  Sibley  Church;  its  membership  has  furnished 
teachers  for  the  Sunday  school  managed  by  Mr.  Bowles, 
and  kept  alive  by  him  and  these  young  people  through 
many  discouragements.  To-day  it  numbers  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety  members.  The  Sunday  school  at  the 
Reformatory  was  maintained  for  some  time  by  this 
society.  The  work  has  recently  been  taken  up  by 
Andrew  Winter,  one  of  the  nine  colored  members  of 
our  church.  A  junior  society  has  been  established 
lately  with  a  president,  Miss  Mary  North,  and  a  mem- 
bership of  ninety-three.  Active  members  of  this  so- 
ciety are  the  Misses  Wardlaw,  Miss  E.  Bailie,  Miss 
Lucy  Ingram,  Miss  Minnie  Hilton,  and   others.      Too 


64  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

much    cannot  be    said    in    appreciation    of    the    work 
accomplished  by  these  young  people. 

In  1900  Mr.  Brand,  of  the  diaconate,  was  obliged 
to  change  his  residence.  There  was  much  regret 
expressed  by  pastor  and  people,  for  he  had  rendered 
earnest  and  faithful  service.  In  June,  1901,  Dr. 
Plunket  received  a  call  from  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  Dallas,  Texas.  Feeling  it  was  his  duty  to  con- 
sider the  matter,  he  visited  the  distant  State,  remain- 
ing there  a  fortnight.  On  the  Sunday  following  his 
departure,  a  congregational  meeting  was  held,  and  a 
most  earnest  protest  was  made  against  Dr.  Plunket 
carrying  out  any  idea  he  might  have  formed  of  leav- 
ing his  present  charge.  The  congregation  lifted  up 
its  voice  and  declared  he  must  not  go.  Telegrams 
and  letters  besieged  the  pastor,  and  on  his  return  he 
was  met  not  only  by  a  delegation  from  the  congrega- 
tion, but  a  committee  of  the  citizens  at  large,  all  anx- 
ious to  impress  him  with  their  anxiety  that  he  should 
remain  among  them.  When  Dr.  Plunket's  decision 
to  do  so  was  made  known,  there  was  rejoicing  in  the 
hearts  of  his  congregation,  who  stand  ready  to-day 
to  bear  witness  to  their  appreciation  of  his  great  ability 
in  the  pulpit,  of  his  faithfulness  as  a  pastor,  and  his 
sincerity  as  a  friend.  During  Dr.  Plunket's  pastorate 
six  hundred  persons  have  been  admitted  to  the  church, 
and  truly,  as  pastor  and  people,  our  "ways  have  been 
ways  of  pleasantness,  and  our  paths  have  been  paths 
of  peace."  But  while  there  has  been  much  cause  for 
thankfulness  among  us,  there  has  been  much  sorrow 
also.  Since  September,  1891,  up  to  the  present  time, 
eight  elders  of  the  church  have  been  removed  by  death. 
Suitable  memorials  to  these  good  men  have  been 
placed  on  record,  and  they  are  remembered  as  those 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  65 

who  rendered  faithful  service  on  earth  and  have  gone 
to  receive  the  just  reward  of  their  labors.  A  beauti- 
ful address  made  by  Dr.  Plunket  at  the  funeral  of  his 
elder,  Dr.  H.  F.  Campbell,  will  never  be  forgotten  by 
those  who  heard  it.  The  text  was  in  the  words:  "And 
at  the  top  of  the  pillar  there  was  lily  work." 

In  1902  Miss  Mary  Jane  Moore,  for  many  years 
a  devoted  member  of  the  church,  died  and  left  a 
legacy  of  $1000  to  be  used  by  the  trustees  as  they 
thought  best.  Within  the  past  year  also,  three  of 
the  oldest  members  of  our  church  have  gone  from 
our  midst — Mrs.  Moragne,  Mrs.  John  North,  and  Mrs. 
Amanda  Newberry.  Two  of  these  ladies  were  inti- 
mate friends  in  girlhood,  and  all  three  of  them  led 
consistently  Christian  lives  and  were  conspicuous  in 
their  loyalty  to  the  communion  to  which  they  belonged. 
We  believe  that  far  beyond  this  world  they  are  to- 
gether, and  that  their  lives  of  service  on  earth  have 
been  but  the  beginning  of  a  glorious  eternity. 

On  Thursday,  the  3d  of  December,  1903,  our  church 
was  menaced  by  fire,  as  some  years  ago  it  was  by 
flood.  Early  in  the  morning  the  lecture  room  of  the 
Telfair  Building  was  found  in  flames.  The  fire  de- 
partment was  called,  and  the  walls  of  the  building 
were  saved;  the  furniture,  carpets,  &c.,  being,  unfor- 
tunately, destroyed.  The  damage  has  since  then  been 
repaired.  Only  one  year  before,  the  church,  parsonage, 
and  Telfair  Building  had  been  thoroughly  renovated. 

We  have  traced  the  church  from  the  beginning, 
with  no  local  habitation  and  a  membership  of  thir- 
teen, to  the  present  day,  when  six  hundred  and  fifty 
persons  are  enrolled;  when  it  owns  a  large  and  sub- 
stantial church  and  parsonage,  has  built  three  other 
churches,  and  has  under  its  care  three  Sunday  schools. 


66  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

In  its  welfare  we  rejoice,  for  is  it  not  the  church 
in  which  many  of  us  stood  in  early  youth  and 
promised  before  angels  and  men  to  serve  God  as  best 
we  could  ;  the  church  where,  perchance,  we  vowed 
"to  love  as  we  had  vowed  to  serve";  the  church 
where  we  carried  our  little  children,  and  where  the 
pure  waters  of  baptism  were  sprinkled  on  them;  and 
into  its  sacred  portals  have  we  not  borne  our  blessed 
dead?  There  is  a  plant  known  to  botanists  as  the 
Mexican  agave.  According  to  popular  belief,  this 
plant  matures  only  at  the  end  of  a  hundred  years' 
existence.  As  its  centenary  approaches  a  slender  stem 
rises  from  the  plant,  which,  when  the  time  is  fully 
accomplished,  is  crowned  with  a  cluster  of  bloom. 
As  the  flower  withers  the  plant  dies,  and  in  a  short 
space  of  time  there  is  nothing  left  but  brown  decay. 
Not  so  shall  it  be  with  our  century  plant,  for  the 
flowers  it  bears  to-day  are  the  blossoms  of  love  and 
peace  and  brotherly  kindness  and  consecration;  and 
such  as  these  do  not  kill,  but  renew  the  parent  stem, 
drinking  in  the  sweet  dew  of  heavenly  blessing,  and 
so   renewing  and  refreshing   root    and   stem  and  leaf. 


THE  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  AND  LIBRARY  BUILDING. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  67 


Centennial  ^unDar^^ci^ool  Cjcetctjiejs 


Described  by  Major  George  P.  Butler. 


THE  Sunday  School  celebrated  the  Church  Cen- 
tennial with  special  exercises,  which  com- 
menced at  half-past  four  in  the  afternoon  of 
Sunday,  May  15th,  1904.  The  weather  conditions 
were  perfect,  a  circumstance  particularly  fortunate, 
as  the  procession  to  the  church  and  the  other  exer- 
cises outside  the  building  would  have  been  impossi- 
ble otherwise. 

Invitations  had  been  extended  to  the  Presbyterian 
schools  of  the  city,  and  there  were  large  delegations 
present  from  the  Riverside  Mission,  under  Supt. 
Charles  Whitney,  and  the  Reid  Memorial  on  the  Hill, 
under  Supt.  Henry  Hardwick;  also,  the  school  of  the 
Greene  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  under  Supt.  R.  A. 
Scott,  and  that  of  the  Sibley  Church,  under  Supt. 
J.  L.  Bowles,  were  well  represented.  These  schools 
were  asked  to  meet  at  the  Telfair  Building;  all  other 
visitors  were  requested  to  occupy  seats  in  the  church. 
The  pews  in  the  front  half  of  the  church  auditorium 
had  been  reserved  for  the  members  of  the  Sunday 
schools,  and  the  remaining  space  proved  insufficient 
to  accommodate  the   great  concourse  of  parents  and 


68  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

friends  who  came  to  witness  the  exercises,  many  be- 
ing compelled  to  stand  in  the  vestibule  and  in  the 
gallery,  while  others  were  unable  to  get  inside  the 
building. 

Long  before  the  time  appointed  the  schools  began 
to  gather  in  the  Telfair  Building.  The  members  of 
the  First  School  took  their  usual  seats  downstairs, 
the  Home  Department  met  in  the  lecture  room,  and 
the  nurses,  with  the  babies  of  the  Cradle  Roll,  stood 
just  outside  the  entrance  to  the  primary  room,  while 
the  visiting  schools  occupied  seats  upstairs. 

All  in  the  Telfair  Building  were  given  souvenir 
badges  of  blue  satin,  on  which  was  stamped  a  pic- 
ture of  the  church  and  the  date  of  the  centennial. 
Also,  little  name  slips  were  given  to  all  attending  the 
exercises,  with  instructions  to  fill  out  the  blanks  for 
the  names  of  the  person  and  school  represented,  and 
to  deposit  the  slips  in  boxes  at  the  church  doors,  thus 
forming  an  interesting  record  of  the  attendance  on 
this  memorable  occasion.  Finally,  just  before  march- 
ing out,  each  of  the  following  departments  of  the 
First  School  was  given  two  banners  of  the  chosen 
color  of  that  department:  The  Primary,  white;  the 
Intermediate,  pink;  the  Junior,  crimson;  the  First 
Senior,  orange;  and  the  Second  Senior,  blue.  Each 
banner  had  a  large  gilt  letter,  handsomely  impressed. 

At  a  signal  from  Supt.  George  P.  Butler  the  vari- 
ous departments  of  the  First  School,  followed  by  the 
representatives  of  the  other  schools,  marched  out  by 
twos  at  the  east  door  of  the  Telfair  Building,  form- 
ing a  great  procession,  which  turned  to  the  westward 
across  the  front  side  of  the  building,  traversed  the 
curve  of  the  walk  nearly  to  the  gate  in  front,  thence 
straight  across  the  churchyard  toward  the  east,  turn- 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  69 

ing  to  the  right  on  reaching  the  fence  at  the  north- 
east comer  and  countermarching  to  the  front  of 
the  church,  where  the  procession  entered  the  central 
door. 

This  Hne  of  march  gave  every  one  in  the  procession 
an  opportunity  to  enjoy  the  grand  spectacle  presented 
by  a  double  hne  of  half  a  thousand  happy  children, 
with  their  teachers,  marching  with  banners  waving 
and  badges  gayly  fluttering  in  the  breeze,  the  little 
babes  of  the  Cradle  Roll  in  their  nurses'  arms,  the 
parents  and  others  of  the  Home  Department  repre- 
senting the  older  people,  while  from  the  open  doors 
and  windows  of  the  church  came  the  notes  of  an  in- 
spiring march  song,  led  by  the  great  organ  within. 
It  was  a  sight  never  to  be  forgotten. 

The  people  in  the  church  rose  to  their  feet  and 
continued  singing  as  the  schools  marched  in  and  oc- 
cupied the  seats  reserved  for  them.  The  babies  were 
taken  to  the  "amen  comer,"  on  the  east  side. 

When  the  music  stopped  all  were  seated  and  then 
joined  in  the  Lord's  Prayer.  The  first  song,  "On- 
ward, Christian  Soldiers!"  rose  as  a  mighty  volume  of 
praise  from  a  thousand  joyful  hearts,  and  the  myriad 
of  incandescent  lamps  glowing  in  the  arches  above 
were  surely  no  brighter  than  the  faces  of  the  chil- 
dren  below  as  they   sang  to  their  great   Captain. 

James  L.  Fleming,  Assistant  Superintendent,  read 
the  names  of  the  babes  on  the  Cradle  Roll,  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Plunket  offered  a  fervent  prayer  for  them  and 
their  parents,  invoking  the  Divine  blessing  upon  the 
entire  audience  and  the  occasion. 

A  reading  of  Psalm  CXI.,  from  the  "Responsive 
Selections"  of  the  church,  was  led  by  H.  A.  FHsch, 
Assistant  Superintendent.     Following  this,  a  contribu- 


70  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

tion  for  Foreign  Missions  was  taken,  while  the  "Sun- 
shine Band"  of  twenty-five  girls  rendered  a  beautiful 
chorus. 

Superintendent  Butler  then  conducted  an  exercise 
with  banners  carried  by  the  various  departments.  The 
bearers  of  two  banners  placed  them  in  stands  arranged 
in  a  line  across  the  front  of  the  church,  and  their  let- 
ters were  seen  to  be  "C"  and  "E."  The  Superin- 
tendent said  that  these  represented  a  "Century's  Ex- 
istence," and  he  made  a  brief  reference  to  the  mean- 
ing of  the  centennial  occasion.  Two  other  banners 
were  then  brought  forward,  presenting  the  letters 
"N"  and  "T";  these  were  shown  to  stand  for  the 
"New  Thankfulness"  which  should  be  in  the  hearts 
of  the  people  in  view  of  God's  care  of  this  church. 
Similarly,  the  next  banners,  bearing  the  letters  "E" 
and  "N,"  suggested  "Enlarged  Natures"  lifted  above 
petty  trials  and  discouragements  because  of  faith  in 
God.  The  letters  "N"  and  "I"  of  the  next  banners 
represented  the  "New  Inspirations"  for  the  future 
which  should  animate  the  people.  Finally,  the  last 
banners,  bearing  the  letters  "A"  and  "L,"  were  used 
to  indicate  the  "Anointed  Lives,"  which  are  alone 
acceptable  to  the  God  who  has  done  so  much  for  His 
children.  The  completed  line  of  banners  then  spelled 
the  word  "CENTENNIAL,"  whose  artistic  lettering 
and  arrangement  of  colors  made  a  striking  addition 
to  the  decorations  of  the  building. 

All  standing,  the  song,  "Count  Your  Blessings," 
was  sung,  after  which 

REV.  DR.  PLUNKET'S    ADDRESS. 

The  Sunday  school,  in  its  essential  principles,  is  no 
modern  institution.     When  it  first  appears  as  an  his- 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  71 

torical  fact,  its  head  is  already  hoary  with  age,  and 
crowned  with  legends  of  its  primeval  usefulness.  Au- 
thorities are  agreed,  however,  that  at  least  one  hun- 
dred years  before  Christ,  schools  for  the  study  of  the 
law  were  held  in  connection  with  the  Sabbath  worship 
in  every  Jewish  synagogue,  and  that  attendance  upon 
the  same  by  all  the  people  was  compulsory.  As  the 
New  Testament  Church  was  patterned  upon  the  model 
of  the  synagogue,  nothing  seems  more  certain  than 
that  the  methods  of  instructing  the  people  in  the  days 
of  the  Apostles  and  their  immediate  successors,  was 
according  to  the  pattern  of  the  Jews  in  the  "House 
of  Instruction." 

It  is  well  for  us  to  remember  three  facts  of  history: 
First,  that  as  the  Bible-school  instruction  was  gradu- 
ally abandoned  the  spirituality  of  the  early  Church 
decHned;  second,  with  the  Reformation  of  the  six- 
teenth century,  this  form  of  instruction  was  resumed, 
and  a  number  of  Protestant  leaders  prepared  cate- 
chisms for  their  several  communions.  The  moral  and 
religious  decadence  during  the  sixteenth  and  seven- 
teenth centuries  finds  successful  explanation  in  the 
decline  of  the  Bible-school  practice.  The  spiritualness 
and  the  practical  value  of  the  Bible  school,  or,  as  we 
popularly  call  it,  the  Sabbath  school,  is  thus  abund- 
antly evidenced. 

It  is  fitting,  therefore,  that  in  this  centennial  exer- 
cise, our  Sabbath  school  should  have  fitting  recogni- 
tion. As  a  part  of  this  afternoon's  programme,  a 
brief  sketch  of  the  history  of  this  school  should  be 
presented. 

In  discharging  this  pleasant  duty,  I  can  do  no  bet- 
ter than  avail  myself  of  the  admirable  presentation 
of  the  subject  made  by  Ruling  Elder  F.   M.   Stovall 


72  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

on  another  occasion.  He  says,  in  substance  :  "The 
material  for  the  purpose  proposed  is  so  sadly  lack- 
ing, its  execution  has  proved  no  easy  task,  and  for 
like  reason,  it  must,  of  necessity,  be  imperfect.  Per- 
manent records  of  the  school  are  wanting.  Its  own 
books,  prior  to  those  now  in  use,  have  been  misplaced 
or  were  never  preserved.  The  minutes  of  our  Session 
in  the  remote  past  contain  few  references  to  this 
auxiliary  and  nursery  of  the  church,  and  those  refer- 
ences are  of  an  incidental  character.  I  have  nowhere 
been  able  to  find  any  record  of  the  date  of  organization 
of  our  school. 

Its  beginning  and  much  of  its  subsequent  history 
are  alike  uncertain." 

The  first  suggestion  of  a  Sunday  school  in  connec- 
tion with  our  church  is  to  be  found  in  a  minute  of  the 
Session  under  date  of  February  26th,  1826,  in  which 
a  contribution  was  voted  to  "The  Georgia  Sunday 
School  Union."  We  may  legitimately  infer  from 
this  record  that  this  Sunday  school  was  organized 
and  at  work  seventy  years  ago.  A  few  years  later 
than  the  date  just  given  the  school  convened  in  the  old 
Lecture  Room  at  the  comer  of  Mcintosh  and  Ellis 
Streets,  where  it  continued  to  meet  until  the  dedication 
of  the  present  handsome  and  well-appointed  building 
on  June  22d,  1884. 

We  find  casual  mention  made  of  our  school  at  long 
intervals,  but  no  record  of  special  interest  occurs  until 
November  17th,  1860,  when  the  Session  recommended 
that  a  Sabbath  school  for  negroes  be  established.  Of 
this  school  Dr.  Joseph  Jones  was  superintendent.  It 
held  its  sessions  in  what  was  then  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church  Building,  comer  Kollock  and  Greene 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  73 

Streets,  and  continued  its  work  until  after  the  war, 
when  the  disordered  conditions  then  prevailing  neces- 
sitated its  abandonment. 

It  is  also  interesting  to  note  that  another  Sunday 
school  for  the  colored  people  was  organized  some  years 
after  the  war,  under  the  superintendency  of  Capt. 
W.  H.  Warren,  who  with  the  co-operation  of  the  corps 
of  teachers,  labored  in  the  gallery  of  the  church  for  a 
considerable  period. 

The  dates  and  terms  of  office  of  superintendents  of 
the  school  cannot  be  given  with  accuracy.  Tradition 
alone  can  be  appealed  to,  and  furnishes  us  the  follow- 
ing worthies,  viz.  :  Judge  William  T.  Gould,  Daniel 
Hand,  William  Shear,  Porter  Fleming,  George  W.  Lewis^ 
Charles  A.  Rowland,  James  W.  Bones,  J.  J.  Hickok, 
John  W.  Wallace,  and  B.  F.  Brown. 

For  some  years  prior  to  the  war,  Mr.  James  W. 
Bones  presided  over  the  school,  and  was  beloved  by 
teachers  and  scholars.  About  the  year  1870  he  re- 
signed, and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  John  W.  Wallace, 
whose  lamented  death  on  January  17th,  1896,  left 
our  hearts  sorely  stricken,  and  to  whose  memory  we 
to-day   pay   loving  tribute. 

During  Mr.  Wallace's  superintendency  the  school 
grew  till  it  overflowed  its  confined  quarters  in  the  old 
Lecture  Room,  and  it  became  a  serious  problem  how 
its  increasing  numbers  were  to  be  accommodated. 
Partly  to  relieve  this  pressure,  but  with  the  higher 
purpose  of  extending  Scriptural  instruction  to  others, 
he  organized,  about  1870,  a  school  at  the  Houghton 
Institute.  This  work  was  continued  for  a  consider- 
able time,  and  gave  promise  of  accomplishing  much 
good.      It    was    finally    disbanded,    however,    because 


74  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

the  tax  on  the  teachers  who  were  teaching  in  the 
morning  school,  and  again  in  the  afternoon,  was  too 
onerous. 

About  the  year  1876  workers  from  this  school  estab- 
lished a  Sunday  school  in  a  public  school  building  on 
Jones  Street  above  Kollock.  This  school  grew  to  con- 
siderable proportions,  and  when  the  present  Second 
Presbyterian  Church  was  erected,  and  before  it  was 
organized,  it  became  the  nucleus  of  the  Mission  which 
was  planted  there.  Mr.  W.  H.  Wallace,  beginning 
about  1885,  conducted  a  promising  school  for  several 
years  at  the  Sibley  Chapel  in  the  Fifth  Ward,  under 
the  auspices  of  this  church  and  Sunday  school.  This 
same  work  was  afterwards  renewed  by  Mr.  B.  F.  Brown, 
and  again,  more  recently,  by  Mr.  J.  L.  Bowles. 

From  time  to  time  laborers  have  done  other  mission- 
ary service  in  the  work  at  the  Riverside,  the  Reid 
Memorial,  the  Reformatory,  and  other  schools  in  the 
city. 

Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Wallace,  in  1896,  the  school 
was  demoralized.  There  seemed  no  one  among  us  to 
lift  up  the  banner  and  take  the  leadership.  In  this 
crisis,  upon  the  unanimous  call  of  the  school,  seconded 
by  the  Session's  approval,  Mr.  B.  F.  Brown,  with  char- 
acteristic fortitude  and  Christian  patriotism,  responded 
to  what  seemed  a  perilous  call  of  duty.  God  was  with 
him,  and  he  will  ever  be  remembered  with  love  and 
gratitude  by  every  worker  in  the  school  for  his  wise 
and  patient,  spiritual  and  successful  administration 
through  several  years.  The  temporary  failure  of  his 
health  compelled  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Brown.  Mr. 
George  P.  Butler,  the  present  efficient  Superintendent, 
was  thereupon  unanimously  chosen  for  the  place. 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  75 

Mr.  Butler  is  the  product  of  the  school,  having  grown 
to  manhood  within  its  nourishing  environment.  His 
administration  has  been  marked  by  a  thorough  re- 
organization and  grading  of  the  school,  and  to  his 
thoroughgoing  study  of  every  detail  and  his  fine  ex- 
ecutive ability,  supported  by  the  co-operation  of  his 
honored  assistants  and  teachers,  is  due  the  present 
splendid  condition  of  the  school.  May  the  years  of 
his  usefulness  be  greatly  multiplied,  and  may  many 
stars  be  gathered  from  those  saved  in  this  place  to 
adorn  his  Crown  of  Rejoicing. 

The  history  of  this  school  is  full  of  lights  and 
shadows,  but  to-day  its  bow  abides  in  strength,  and 
from  it  there  issues  many  streams  to  hasten  the  com- 
ing of  Him,  who  when  on  earth  took  little  children 
in  His  arms  and  blessed  them,  and  said;  "Of  such 
is  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven." 

Superintendent  Butler  led  a  "Bible  Lesson" — the 
recitation  of  the  number  of  books,  chapters,  and  verses 
in  the  Old  and  the  New  Testaments,  together  with  the 
names  of  the  subdivisions  of  the  Bible  and  of  the  books, 
in  order.  The  school  named  the  Apostles  and  recited 
the  Commandments  as  called  for,  by  their  topics. 
The  answers  to  all  of  these  questions  were  given  in  a 
manner  most  creditable  to  the  teachers  in  the  school; 
members  of  the  other  schools  also  joined  in  parts  of 
this  exercise. 

The  schools  next  sang,  "On  for  Jesus,"  while  the 
entire  audience,  except  the  First  School,  withdrew  to 
witness  the  further  exercises  outside  the  building;  the 
organ  still  playing,  the  scholars  then  marched  out.  The 
head  of  the  column  turned  to  the  right,  and,  circling 
the  church  building,  united  with  the  other  end  of  the 


76  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

column  at  the  door.  At  a  comet  signal,  all  the  school 
faced  the  church  and  joined  hands,  forming  a  great 
living  ring  around  the  old  church  so  dear  to  all  hearts 
present.  Then,  aided  by  the  great  organ  and  two 
comets  at  the  outer  opposite  comers  of  the  building, 
the  school  sang  from  memory  three  verses  of  its  favor- 
ite song,  "On  to  Victory."  At  the  conclusion  of  this 
significant  exercise,  the  school  marched  into  position 
on  the  brick  pavement  just  in  front  of  the  church  doors, 
while  the  vast  audience  present  was  grouped  behind 
the  school,  all  facing  the  church.  The  Pastor,  stand- 
ing in  the  central  doorway,  made  the  following  re- 
marks in  reference  to  the  memorial  tablet  about  to 
be  unveiled,  and  offered  an  impressive  prayer  for  God's 
continued  blessing  upon  the  members  of  the  church 
and  congregation. 

PASTOR'S    REMARKS. 

The  rocks  are  God's  memorial  tablet.  In  their  con- 
stitution He  has  written  somewhat  of  past  life  and 
past  conditions.  The  granite  of  the  hills  and  the  coral 
of  the  sea  are  in  part  the  record,  inscribed  by  the 
Almighty  Hand,  of  a  history  completed  before  Man 
was  made. 

Man  imitates  his  Creator.  He  often  builds  his  me- 
morials with  stone.  This  practice  of  the  race  runs 
further  into  the  past  than  authentic  history.  In 
almost  every  land  are  found  such  memorials,  standing 
the  silent  record  of  events  both  interesting  and  impor- 
tant to  an  ancient  people,  whose  history  is  altogether 
lost  or  else  comes  down  to  us  confused  by  legend  and 
tradition.  These  ancient  memorials  consisted  of  a 
single  stone  or  a  heap  of  stones.  Such  stones  received 
some  name  which  was  significant,  or  else  were  marked 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  77 

with  a  brief  inscription  setting  forth  the  purpose  for 
which  they  were  builded. 

Among  the  earHest  of  such  memorials  spoken  of  in 
the  Bible  may  be  noted,  that  one  builded  by  Jacob  at 
Bethel,  when  the  fleeing  patriarch,  waking  from  his 
heavenly  vision,  made  his  vow  to  God.  At  Mizpeh  it 
was  that  Jacob  builded  "the  heap  of  witness,"  to  in- 
dicate that  God  was  the  witness  between  him  and 
Laban  in  their  covenant  of  peace.  Moses  builded  an 
altar  of  stone  in  Rephidim  and  called  it  Jehovah  nissi — 
"The  Lord  my  Banner,"  in  token  of  Jehovah's  vic- 
torious help  against  the  Amalekites.  It  was  Joshua 
who  commanded,  and  it  was  Israel  who  took  twelve 
stones  and  set  them  in  the  midst  of  Jordan  for  a  me- 
morial of  the  place,  where  the  feet  of  the  priests  stood, 
who  bare  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  when  Israel  crossed 
Jordan  into  the  promised  land.  Joshua,  when  mak- 
ing his  farewell  address  to  Israel,  made  a  covenant  with 
them  "and  took  a  great  stone  and  set  it  up  at  Shechem 
under  an  oak,"  for  a  witness.  In  like  manner,  Sam- 
uel took  a  stone  and  set  it  up  between  Mizpeh  and  Shen 
and  called  the  name  of  it  Eben-Ezer,  saying:  "Hith- 
erto hath  the  Lord  helped  us."  This  stone  was  to  be 
to  the  people  as  a  connecting  link  between  the  lesson 
of  defeat  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  Philistines  twenty 
years  before  and  the  victory  just  gained  over  this 
same  historic  enemy. 

The  inscription  of  this  memorial  looked  backward 
and  forward.  Retrospectively  it  called  for  gratitude; 
prospectively  it  gave  a  note  of  caution.  To-day  we 
unveil  our  memorial  stone.  We  inscribe  it  as  Samuel 
did  his  stone  set  up  between  Mizpeh  and  Shen.  Our 
stone  is  first  of  all,  in  grateful  acknowledgment  of 
Divine    help    in    the    past.     The    century   just    closed 


78  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

was  crowded  with  the  records  of  inventions,  discov- 
eries, and  progress.  It  throbbed  "with  the  spirit  of 
the  years  to  come,  yearning  to  mix  itself  with  Hfe." 
It  was  a  century  of  conflict  between  the  forces  of  moral 
light  and  moral  darkness.  Its  years  were  seared  with 
violent  outbreaks  of  forces  natural  and  forces  super- 
natural. In  the  early  morning  of  that  eventful  cen- 
tury, this  communion  was  organized  and  a  few  years 
later  this  noble  church  edifice  was  builded.  Through 
all  the  changes  of  those  hundred  years  God  has  pre- 
served this  communion  in  soundness  of  doctrine  and 
in  spirituality  of  worship;  He  has  also  protected  His 
holy  house.  As  we  meditate  upon  the  history  of  our 
local  church  our  hearts  overflow  with  thankfulness, 
and  we  break  forth  into  singing — 

"  I  love  thy  church,  O  God, 
The  house  of  thine  abode; 
The  church  our  blest  Redeemer  saved 
With  His  own  precious  blood." 

We  love  our  Mother  Church  because  of  her  noble 
dead  who  loved  her  to  the  end;  we  love  her  because 
of  the  line  of  learned  and  godly  ministers  who  have 
led  our  worship  at  her  altars;  we  love  her  for  her  con- 
quests in  the  name  of  our  ascended  King;  we  love  her 
because  of  her  hundred  years  of  prayers  and  praise; 
we  love  her  as  the  birthplace  of  many  a  child  of  God, 
now  gone  to  the  Father's  House  in  heaven,  and  of 
many  more,  still  actively  engaged  in  the  Father's  work 
in  the  world!  How  becoming,  then,  for  us  to  memorial- 
ize her  glorious  history  with  this  stone;  how  fitting, 
as  we  unveil  it,  that  we  say,  with  glad  and  grateful 
hearts,  "Not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  unto 
thy  Name  give  glory,  for  thy  mercy  and  for  thy  truth's 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  79 

sake."  With  true  memorial  intent  we  unveil  this 
stone  as  making  permanent  record  of  our  sense  of 
Divine  help  in  the  past.  Besides  this,  how  instructive 
will  be  the  record  which  this  stone  recalls  afresh  to  us 
each  time  we  pass  under  it  into  the  House  of  God! 
In  times  of  future  conflict  and  trial  it  will  be  to  us  a 
reminder  and  an  inspiration.  Times  of  conflict  and 
trial  will  come;  we  are  Hable  to  forget  the  happenings 
of  the  past;  but  this  stone,  even  though  the  years  may 
wear  away  its  face,  will  ever  remind  us  of  Him  who 
changes  not,  and  will  incite  us  to  faith  and  prayer. 
Further  still,  it  will  serve  this  same  great  purpose  for 
those  who  shall  come  after  us — our  children  and  our 
children's  children  and  the  stranger  who  shall  come 
in  with  them.  To  them  this  stone  will  be  the  per- 
petual and  steadfast  reminder  of  what  God  has  done 
for  us  and  through  us,  and  will  be  to  them  the  assur- 
ance that  if  they  forsake  not  the  covenant  God  of 
their  fathers,  He  will  be  the  same  to  them  and  through 
them  to  the  world.  Seeing  this  stone  of  help,  our 
children  in  the  day  of  their  affliction  may  take  heart 
again. 

How  conducive  to  the  glory  of  God  is  this  service 
which  now  we  render!  As  often  as  we  behold  this 
stone  we  shall  be  stirred  to  fresh  thanksgiving  and 
consecration.  When  we  are  gone  it  will  still  endure. 
Others  will  gather  before  it,  and  ask  the  meaning  of 
"the  great  stone  which  remaineth  unto  this  day," 
and,  on  being  told,  will  give  glory  to  God.  So  His 
praise  will  be  perpetuated  from  generation  to  gen- 
eration, until  it  merge  into  the  anthem  of  heaven. 

Elder  O.  M.  Stone,  a  veteran  in  the  service  of  the 
church,  and  Master  Kennedy  Plunket,  the  Pastor's 
son,  stepped  forward,  and  drawing  the  cords,  revealed 


80 


CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 


a  white  marble  tablet,  approximately  seven  feet  long 
and  three  feet  high,  set  into  the  front  of  the  church 
over  the  central  door,  and  bearing  this  inscription: — 


CENTENNIAL 

1804  — 1904 

Hitherto  hath   the   Lord   helped   us." 
MAY    15,   1904- 


All  present  joined  in  singing  "God  be  With  You 
till  we  Meet  Again,"  the  benediction  was  pronounced 
by  the  Pastor,  and  the  exercises  were  concluded. 


_ J804  - 
-IS04- 


3'RTKPLAC£ 

oF 


OF   THE  / 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  81 


a  €tnt\xvv  of  l^ome  pn^^iom 


Abstract  of  an  Address  by  Rev.  S.  L.  Morris,  D.D. 

Secretary  of  the  General  Assembly's  Committee 
of  Home  Missions. 


A  CENTURY  fills  a  large  section  of  time  in  the 
life  of  an  individual  church ;  but  a  century  is 
an  insignificant  fraction  in  the  history  of  Pres- 
byterianism.  Looking  backward  one  hundred  years, 
this  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Augusta  is  an  in- 
fant in  the  arms  of  American  Presbyterianism,  and 
going  backward  one  hundred  years  beyond  that, 
American  Presbyterianism  is  itself  a  babe — the  off- 
spring of  European  Presbyterianism;  but  even  at 
that  time  Presbyterianism  itself  was  venerable  with 
age,  reaching  backward  through  the  centuries  beyond 
the  times  of  Christ  and  the  Apostles.  It  is  older  than 
Grecian  philosophy;  it  saw  the  rise  of  the  Roman 
Empire  seven  hundred  and  fifty  years  before  Christ; 
it  antedates  Egyptian  civilization;  it  reaches  back- 
ward to  the  times  of  the  Patriarchs,  having  its  ori- 
gin in  the  twilight  of  history. 

The  object  of  this  gathering  is  the  celebration  of 
the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  this  individual 
church,  and  I  congratulate  you  upon  attaining  the 
venerable  age  of  one  hundred  years,  yet  still  in  the 
strength  and  vigor  of  manhood.     I   congratulate   you 


82  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

on  having  lived  in  the  most  important  century  in 
the  history  of  the  world,  for  the  life  of  your  church 
parallels  the  world's  greatest  achievements. 

One  hundred  years  ago  Eli  Whitney  was  just  giv- 
ing to  the  world  his  first  rude  cotton  gin;  now,  as 
a  result,  myriads  of  mills  have  sprung  up  along  the 
banks  of  all  our  streams,  in  all  our  villages  and 
towns,  with  their  marvellous  machinery  throbbing  and 
pulsating  as  if  instinct  with  life. 

One  hundred  years  ago  Benjamin  Franklin  had  but 
recently  discovered  electricity.  It  was  not  until  the 
first  quarter  of  the  nineteenth  century  had  passed  that 
Michael  Faraday  gave  the  world  some  hint  as  to  the 
uses  of  electricity  as  a  motor  power,  &c.  The  cen- 
tury was  half  gone  before  Morse  made  it  convey  the 
world's  messages  with  lightning  speed.  Only  during 
the  last  quarter  of  the  past  century  came  the  great- 
est triumphs  of  science  in  telephones,  phonographs, 
vitascopes,  &c.  Now  electricity  lights  our  cities,  de- 
livers our  messages,  and  turns  the  machinery  of  the 
world. 

One  hundred  years  ago  the  United  States  was  an 
infant  itself  among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  contain- 
ing only  about  five  millions  of  people — about  twice 
the  present  population  of  Georgia.  Now  it  stands  at 
the  forefront  of  the  nations  of  the  earth,  having  nearly 
one  hundred  million  population,  with  an  international 
influence  reaching  around  the  globe  and  able  to  dic- 
tate terms  to  the  entire  world. 

However  great  the  world's  achievements  during  the 
one  hundred  years  past  in  material  development,  in 
scientific  progress,  and  in  statecraft,  these  are  not  by 
far  its  greatest  triumphs.  Missions  are  the  grandest 
characteristic  of   the  progress  of    the  nineteenth  cen- 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  83 

tury — sometimes  characterized  as  "the  miracle  of 
missions." 

Time  would  fail  me  to  give  even  the  briefest  out- 
line of  the  progress  of  the  Church  in  its  missionary- 
development.  Eliminating  every  other  consideration, 
I  must  confine  myself  to  a  short  sketch  of  its  Home 
Mission  operations  during  the  past  one  hundred  years. 

(1.)  As  the  oak  strikes  its  roots  in  the  virgin  soil, 
penetrating  into  the  crevices  of  granite  rock,  forc- 
ing entrance  into  the  hard  clay,  or  expanding  into 
the  more  inviting  richer  mold,  drawing  sustenance 
and  strength  from  all  sources,  so  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  the  United  States  has  drawn  its  life  and 
strength  from  almost  all  the  States  of  Europe.  Puri- 
tans from  England,  Huguenots  from  France,  Scotch- 
Irish  from  Ireland,  Dutch  from  Holland,  Scotch,  Ger- 
mans, Swedes,  Swiss,  &c.,  mingle  their  blood  and 
religious  life  to  form  on  this  Western  Continent  the 
staunchest,  sturdiest,  the  purest  and  most  aggressive 
Presbyterian  Church  on  earth. 

Persecution  that  scattered  the  infant  Church  in 
the  early  days  of  Christianity,  sending  its  member- 
ship "everywhere  preaching  the  Word,"  has  on  more 
than  one  occasion  been  a  blessing  in  disguise — God's 
method  of  propagating  the  faith.  As  the  massacre 
of  St.  Bartholomew's  Day  and  the  revocation  of  the 
Edict  of  Nantes  sent  some  of  the  best  blood  of 
France  into  exile,  and  the  Nemesis  of  history  was 
avenged  when  their  descendants  returned  as  officers 
in  the  German  army  that  conquered  and  humiliated 
France,  so  the  misguided  Stuart  dynasty  forced  the 
flower  of  England  into  the  wilderness  of  America, 
where  their  sons  founded  the  greatest  of  Republics, 
and   dealt   to    England   the    severest   blow   in    all    her 


84  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

history.  The  Presbyterian  Church  of  America  was 
bom  of  persecution,  and  men  who  were  willing  to 
suffer  for  conscience'  sake  and  satisfied  to  exile  them- 
selves amidst  the  wild  forests  and  wilder  savages  for 
religious  liberty,  are  not  bad  material  out  of  which 
to  build  an  enduring  Church. 

The  gigantic  failure  of  Spain  to  establish  a  great 
empire  in  America  as  she  entered  by  the  southern 
gate  through  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  the  equally 
disastrous  failure  of  France  by  the  northern  gate 
through  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  can  only  be  ex- 
plained by  those  who  see  the  finger  of  God  in  his- 
tory, preserving  America  for  the  Anglo-Saxon  and 
Protestantism.  Driven  from  the  older  countries  of 
Europe  by  persecution,  their  settlement  of  a  new 
continent  was  not  so  much  in  the  hope  of  commercial 
gain  as  the  establishment  of  an  asylum  for  religious 
liberty. 

The  Puritans  transplanted  their  Calvinistic  faith  and 
austere  life  on  Plymouth  Rock,  Massachusetts;  Eng- 
lish Presbyterians  entered  Virginia  through  Jamestown ; 
the  Dutch  settled  New  York,  Maryland,  and  some 
went  South;  the  exiled  Huguenots  found  a  home  in 
South  Carolina.  But  the  most  important  factor  in 
the  Presbyterianism  of  the  United  States  was  the 
coming  of  large  colonies  of  Scotch-Irish,  who  entered 
chiefly  at  Philadelphia  and  Charleston.  It  is  due  to 
this  fact  that  Pennsylvania  and  the  Carolinas  have 
been  the  strongholds  of  Presbyterianism  respectively 
in  the  North  and  South.  These  two  streams  after- 
wards met  and  flowed  together,  those  from  Pennsyl- 
vania emigrating  westward  and  southward  through 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  meeting  the  South  Car- 
olina contingent,  making  the  Atlantic  Slope  from  New 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  85 

York  to  South  Carolina  the  nursery  of  Presbyterian- 
ism  for  the  continent. 

Exactly  two  hundred  years  ago  the  first  Presbytery 
was  organized  in  the  United  States  in  1706,  at  Phila- 
delphia, with  seven  ministers;  and  it  required  nearly 
one  hundred  years  to  grow  into  a  General  Assembly, 
which  was  organized  in  1789 — the  same  year  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  was  adopted.  It 
is  interesting  to  note  that  at  the  very  first  meeting  of 
the  General  Assembly,  the  Presbyterian  Church  sig- 
nalized its  organized  life  by  laying  hold  of  the  great 
problem  of  Home  Missions. 

At  this  time  the  country  had  a  population  of  5,000,- 
000,  and  Presbyterian  strength  was  288  ministers  and 
licentiates,  419  churches  (one-half  being  vacant),  and 
about  20,000  communicants.  Such  was  the  humble 
beginning  of  Presbyterianism  on  this  continent.  It 
was  as  "an  handful  of  com  in  the  earth  upon  the  top 
of  the  mountains,"  but  its  fruit  "as  the  shaking  of 
Lebanon,"  bearing  thirty,  sixty,  and  a  hundred  fold, 
now  facing  the  twentieth  century  with  a  phalanx  of 
twelve  Presbyterian  denominations  in  the  United 
States,  aggregating  12,000  ministers,  15,000  churches, 
and  about  2,000,000  communicants. 

It  is  interesting  and  instructive  to  know  that  the 
first  recorded  grant  of  missionary  money  in  this  coun- 
try was  made  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  New 
York  in  1719,  "to  enable  it  to  support  the  Gospel." 
Did  the  Church  ever  make  in  this  world  a  better  in- 
vestment from  a  financial  standpoint?  Does  any 
outlay  of  funds  ever  pay  better  than  Home  Missions? 
Burdened  with  their  growing  spiritual  wants,  the 
Presbytery,  and  afterwards  the  Synod,  sent  frequent 
and  urgent   supplications  to   the   Synods   of  Scotland 


86  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

and  Ireland  and  to  the  Evangelical  ministers  of  Lon- 
don and  Dublin  for  ministers  and  money  to  aid  in  their 
maintenance.  Right  nobly  did  the  Mother  Church 
respond  to  this  Macedonian  cry  from  the  wilderness 
of  America.  So  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United 
States  is  the  child  of  Home  Missions,  now  grown 
stronger  than  the  parent  and  upon  whose  shoulders 
has  fallen,  as  a  mantle,  the  spirit  of  Home  Missions. 

Before  we  begin  to  follow  the  separate  fortunes  of 
the  Southern  branch  of  the  Church,  we  can  quote  in 
passing  only  the  famous  overture  to  the  Assembly  of 
1831,  offered  by  Dr.  John  H.  Rice,  founder  of  Union 
Theological  Seminary  in  Virginia,  in  which  he  asks 
the  Assembly  to  recognize  more  emphatically  the 
mission  of  the  Church:  "First,  that  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  is  a  missionary  society, 
the  object  of  which  is  to  aid  in  the  conversion  of  the 
world;  and  that  every  member  of  the  Church  is  a 
member  for  life  of  the  said  society,  and  bound  in  the 
maintenance  of  his  Christian  character  to  do  all  in  his 
power  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  object.  Second, 
ministers  of  the  Gospel  in  connection  with  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  are  most  solemnly  required  to  present 
this  subject  to  the  members  of  their  respective  con- 
gregations, using  every  effort  to  make  them  feel  their 
obligations  and  to  induce  them  to  contribute  accord- 
ing to  their  ability." 

In  the  language  of  Rev.  P.  H.  Gwinn,  the  Southern 
Presbyterian  Church  "was  born  amid  the  awful  throes 
of  civil  war.  The  growth  of  conflicting  social  and 
political  opinions  in  the  great  Commonwealth  had 
caused  a  rupture  between  the  North  and  South,  across 
whose  ever-widening  chasm  the  arms  of  the  Church 
could  not  reach. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  87 

"The  smoke  of  battle  around  Fort  Sumter  had 
scarcely  cleared  away,  and  the  whole  country  was 
swept  by  a  wave  of  tragic  emotion,  when  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  met  in  the  city 
of  Philadelphia,  May,  1861.  Under  stress  of  an  ex- 
citement that  carried  many  of  the  Commissioners  off 
their  feet,  the  famous  'Spring  Resolutions'  were  passed, 
which  effectually  severed  the  ecclesiastical  bonds 
between  North  and  South. 

"The  paper  embodying  these  resolutions  was  con- 
sidered by  the  Southern  Commissioners  as  'a  writ  of 
ejectment '  of  all  that  part  of  the  Church  in  the  bounds 
of  the  territory  that  had  seceded  from  the  Union;  and 
it  became  the  occasion  of  the  withdrawal  of  forty- 
seven  Presbyteries  from  the  old  Church.  These  Pres- 
byteries, through  their  Commissioners,  met  in  the 
fair  city  of  Augusta,  Ga.,  December  4th,  1861,  within 
the  sacred  walls  of  this  building,  and  organized  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Confederate  States,  now 
popularly  known  as  the   Southern   General  Assembty. 

"The  conduct  of  this  Assembly  at  the  first  meeting 
presents  to  the  world  a  sublime  spectacle  of  faith. 
With  dismal  and  bloody  civil  strife  abroad  in  the  land, 
the  roar  of  cannon  borne  upon  every  breeze,  sectional 
feeling  running  high,  and  compelling  brethren  of  like 
religious  faith  to  go  apart,  that  memorable  gathering 
of  God's  servants  rose  above  the  surroundings  to  the 
contemplation  of  the  Savior's  farewell  command,  and, 
looking  out  upon  the  whole  world  as  their  field  of 
operation,  accepted  the  Divine  charge  in  the  following 
beautiful  words:  'The  General  Assembly  desires  dis- 
tinctly and  deliberately  to  inscribe  on  our  Church's 
banner  as  she  now  first  unfolds  it  to  the  world,  in 
immediate  connection  with  the  headship  of  her  Lord, 


88  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

His  last  command:  "Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and 
preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature,"  regarding  this 
as  the  great  end  of  her  organization.' 

"And  after  the  war,  what?  The  horrors  of  recon- 
struction; the  tattered  remnants  of  a  once  glorious 
army,  broken  in  fortune  and  spirit;  smoking  ruins  and 
barren  fields;  once  prosperous  churches  reduced  to 
poverty,  and  vacant  because  their  pastors  had  per- 
ished in  battle  or  were  compelled  to  betake  themselves 
to  breadwinning ;  colleges  robbed  of  their  endowments, 
and  theological  seminaries  closed;  a  generation  of 
noble  men  fallen  asleep,  with  few  or  none  to  take  their 
places;  the  walls  of  Zion  broken  down,  and  the  South- 
ern Presbyterian  Church  but  'a  shell  of  an  organiza- 
tion, with  a  thin  clerical  roll  and  a  long  list  of  vacant 
churches.' 

"Crushed  to  the  dust  by  the  terrible  events  of  war, 
and  chastened  by  many  sorrows,  the  brave  people  of 
the  South  possessed  still  the  faith  of  their  fathers.  In 
the  face  of  a  stem  military  despotism,  they  began  to 
build  with  strenuous  hands  upon  the  ruins  of  better 
days  almost  before  the  camp  fires  had  died  away.  In 
church  matters,  as  in  everything  else,  it  was  like  start- 
ing afresh.  There  was  much  to  be  done — a  ministry 
educated,  houses  of  worship  rebuilt,  broken-down 
churches  revived,  officers  found  and  elected,  and  min- 
isterial support  secured." 

Yet  in  these  adverse  and  forbidding  circumstances 
the  record  of  the  Home  Mission  Committee  shows 
that  it  aided  in  the  support  of  220  ministers.  At  the 
same  time  it  assisted  in  erecting  and  repairing  thirty 
churches  at  a  cost  of  $8000.  The  faith  of  the  Church 
during  her  baptism  of  fire,  her  courage  in  supreme 
danger,  her  patient  suffering  in  defeat,  her  determined 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  89 

resolution  in  great  poverty  to  arise  and  rebuild  her 
broken  walls,  her  steadfast  purpose  turning  defeat 
into  victory,  make  her  worthy  of  a  place  in  history 
by  the  side  of  Nehemiah,  and  are  the  admiration  alike 
of  friend  and  foe. 

The  historical  part  of  this  address  cannot  be  more 
fittingly  closed  than  by  a  glance  at  results.  The 
organic  life  of  the  Southern  Church  began  with  ten 
Synods  and  forty-seven  Presbyteries,  containing  about 
700  ministers,  1000  churches,  and  75,000  communi- 
cants, increased  by  the  addition  after  the  war  of  Ken- 
tucky and  Missouri  Synods,  and  the  erection  of  the 
Synod  of  Florida.  It  now  numbers,  after  the  lapse  of 
forty  years,  thirteen  Synods,  eighty-two  Presbyteries, 
1517  ministers,  3044  churches,  and  235,142  communi- 
cants. Presbyteries  and  ministers  have  increased 
about  100  per  cent.,  whilst  churches  and  communicants 
have  increased  200  per  cent.  It  was  not  until  1870 
that  the  Southern  Church  was  in  position  to  enter 
upon  aggressive  Home  Missions,  so  that  its  real  prog- 
ress ought  to  be  estimated  for  only  thirty  years. 
The  white  population  of  our  mission  field  (Arkansas, 
Florida,  Texas,  and  the  Indian  Territory)  has  in- 
creased in  thirty  years  240  per  cent.,  whilst  our 
church  membership  in  that  section  has  increased  410 
per  cent. 

In  these  thirty  years  the  Committee  of  Home  Mis- 
sions has  aided  in  the  erection  of  about  800  churches 
at  a  cost  of  about  $100,000,  making  the  property  worth 
about  SI, 000,000,  and  providing  15,000  persons  with 
church  homes. 

At  least  2000  Indian  youth  have  been  educated  in 
our  mission  schools,  including  the  majority  of  our 
Indian  preachers,  and  about  2400  Indians  have  been 


90  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

received  into  the  Church  communion.  Five  mission- 
aries are  maintained  among  the  Mexicans  in  Texas,  and 
fourteen  Mexican  churches  have  been  organized  among 
them,  having  a  membership  at  present  of  750,  and 
church  buildings  erected  valued  at  $7500. 

About  250  home  missionaries  have  been  supported 
annually,  supplying  on  an  average  600  churches  and 
preaching  to  more  than  100,000  people  year  by 
year. 

The  sum  total  of  funds  raised  by  the  Southern  Church 
and  expended  in  Home  Mission  work  is  estimated  at 
nearly  $4,000,000.  Twenty-three  millions  raised  by 
the  Northern  Presbyterian  Church  in  a  century  of 
missions,  and  nearly  four  millions  raised  by  her  younger 
sister  in  less  than  half  a  century,  is  not  a  bad  showing 
for  either  Church. 

"But  figures  are  dumb.  Statistics  are  cold,  decep- 
tive things,  when  used  to  compute  the  growth  of  an 
invisible  kingdom.  'Numerals  do  not  voice  the  strong 
things  of  religion.'  The  sum  total  of  sympathy,  self- 
denial,  and  sacrifice  cannot  be  found.  There  is  no 
way  to  compute  the  unspeakable  joy  brought  to  thou- 
sands of  homes  through  the  ministry  of  the  Word;  no 
way  to  measure  the  growth  of  a  community  in  moral 
excellence;  no  symbols  to  express  the  length  and 
breadth  and  height  of  faith,  mercy,  and  love.  Un- 
doubtedly the  grandest  results  of  our  Home  Mission 
work  has  been  the  creation  of  a  current  of  beneficent 
influence,  like  the  Gulf  Stream,  deep,  strong,  immeas- 
urable, which  will  increase  in  volume  till  it  sweeps 
upon  the  shore  of  Eternity."     (Rev.  P.  H.  Gwinn.) 

Now  we  face  the  future — dim,  unknown,  great  with 
possibilities.  The  achievements  of  the  nineteenth 
century   in    science,    statecraft,  and   missions    scarcely 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  91 

allow  the  most  vivid  imagination  to  hazard  a  guess 
in  outlining  the  horizon  of  the  new  century. 

Presbyterianism  began  the  last  century  in  this  coun- 
try a  little  band,  and  now,  "by  the  good  hand  of  our 
God  upon  us,"  it  stands  upon  the  threshold  of  the 
twentieth  century  in  its  aggregate  strength  in  the 
United  States  of  twelve  denominations,  12,000  min- 
isters, 15,000  churches,  and  2,000,000  communicants, 
with  its  missions  stretching  around  the  globe. 

(2.)  After  this  retrospective  glance  of  the  past,  now 
let  us  attempt  a  prospective  forecast  of  the  future, 
outlining  the  policy  of  the  Church  in  its  Home  Mission 
work  and  making  an  appeal  for  this  greatest  of  all 
causes.  The  Presbyterian  Church  of  to-day  in  its 
mission  work  faces  the  same  conditions  as  when  the 
risen  Christ,  standing  on  the  brow  of  Olivet  on  the  eve 
of  the  ascension,  uttered  His  very  last  recorded  words 
to  the  Church:  "Ye  shall  be  witnesses  unto  me  both 
in  Jerusalem,  and  in  all  Judea,  and  in  Samaria,  and 
unto  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth."  It  is  what 
some  have  called  the  Christ's  "programme  of  missions," 
but  what  I  have  designated,  "the  order  of  the  march." 
It  was  not  merely  accidental  that  Christ  said  first 
Jerusalem,  then  Judea,  then  Samaria,  then  the  utter- 
most parts  of  the  earth.  Just  as  a  stone  dropped 
into  a  placid  lake  starts  ripples,  moving  outward  in 
ever  widening  concentric  circles,  so  the  Church,  start- 
ing at  any  home  centre,  must  travel  to  the  utmost  cir- 
cumference— "unto  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth." 

The  Church  may  assume  any  one  of  four  attitudes 
towards  missions: — 

(a.)  All  the  emphasis  may  be  placed  on  Foreign 
Missions,  as  has  been  the  policy  of  the  Moravian  Church. 
It  has  transferred  itself  to  foreign  fields  and  compara- 


92  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

tively  lost  its  grip  at  home;  a  tremendous  factor  in 
the  worid's  evangelization  abroad,  but  an  unimpor- 
tant element  in  the  great  struggle  of  spiritual  forces 
for  the  conquest  of  this  land  for  Christ. 

(b.)  It  may  array  itself  against  missions,  as  has 
been  done  by  the  Primitive  Baptist  Church;  and  as  a 
consequence,  although  containing  many  most  ex- 
cellent Christian  people,  it  is  shrivelling  into  smaller 
proportions  and  retiring  to  mountain  regions  and 
backwoods  settlements. 

(c.)  The  emphasis  may  be  placed  largely  on  Home 
Missions,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Methodist  Church.  As 
a  consequence,  it  leads  all  denominations  in  its  growth 
and  aggressive  work  in  the  home  field. 

(d.)  The  emphasis  may  be  placed  on  Home  and 
Foreign  Missions  alike,  as  in  the  case  of  the  North- 
em  Presbyterian  Church.  As  a  consequence,  it  is  a 
great  spiritual  force  in  the  Great  West  and  through- 
out the  entire  world. 

Those  who  attempt  to  forecast  the  future,  endeavor 
to  prophesy  what  will  be  the  "next  great  awakening." 
Dr.  Josiah  Strong  argues  in  favor  of  Christian  Social- 
ism; Ian  McLaren  suggests  an  ethical  awakening;  leaders 
of  the  Keswick  movement  insist  that  it  will  be  "deep- 
ening of  the  spiritual  life  "  and  the  "infilling  of  the 
Holy  Ghost."  Whatever  be  the  nature  of  the  next 
great  awakening,  there  can  be  no  question  that  the 
present  great  need  is  a  Home  Mission  revival,  which 
shall  sweep  through  the  Church  like  a  mighty,  rushing 
wind,  as  at  Pentecost. 

Home  Missions,  beyond  all  question,  form  the  basis 
of  Foreign  Missions.  If  an  army  is  to  advance  into  the 
country  of  the  enemy,  it  needs  a  strong  base  of  sup- 
ply to  sustain  its  operations.     If  the  Church  had  been 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  93 

Spreading  itself  more  systematically  at  home,  it  would 
be  supporting  a  far  larger  number  on  the  foreign 
field. 

It  is  true  of  some  sections  of  the  great  western  plains 
of  Texas  that  the  people  are  utterly  devoid  of  the 
means  of  grace.  One  of  our  evangelists  last  year  was 
in  a  western  town  of  Texas  and  preached  in  a  town 
of  three  hundred  people  the  first  sermon  that  had  been 
preached  in  over  twelve  months.  There  was  not  a 
church  of  any  denomination  within  a  radius  of  one 
hundred  miles.  This  unoccupied  territory  is  a  call,  an 
appeal,  an  opportunity,  and  the  Presbyterian  Church 
cannot  fold  its  arms  and  shift  this  responsibility  upon 
some  other  denomination  to  give  the  Gospel  to  these 
destitute  regions! 

(3.)  The  struggle  for  Cemetery  Ridge  decided  the 
fate  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  The  battle  of  Get- 
tysburg decided  the  Pennsylvania  campaign.  The 
Pennsylvania  campaign  decided  the  fate  of  the  Con- 
federacy. So,  in  a  certain  sense,  the  struggle  for 
Cemetery  Ridge  decided  the  fate  of  the  Confederacy! 
In  the  West  it  is  now  the  struggle  for  "Cemetery 
Ridge"  with  us  in  many  places.  Many  of  these  new 
towns  springing  up  will  be  the  strategic  points  of 
the  future.  If  we  lose  them,  we  lose  the  territory; 
if  we  lay  our  hands  on  them,  we  can  hold  the  coun- 
try for  Christ  and  the  Presbyterian  Church.  It  is  the 
crisis  of  her  opportunity;  if  lost,  it  goes  by  forever 
and  ever. 

(4.)  Self-interest  necessitates  Home  Missions.  Not 
simply  the  salvation  of  myriads  of  the  lost,  but  the 
very  salvation  of  the  Church  itself  depends  upon  her 
Home  Mission  zeal.  The  Church  must  evangelize  the 
masses  or  they  will  paganize  her  children  in  the  com- 


94  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

ing  generation.  The  mountaineers  are  an  object 
lesson  of  warning,  children  of  the  Covenanters  and 
of  the  Scotch-Irish.  The  slums  of  our  cities  are  the 
degenerate  children  of  the  Church  largely,  whose  an- 
cestors gradually  drifted  from  the  Church,  by  the  way 
of  neglect,  into  the  cesspool  of  debauchery  and  crimi- 
nality. Only  by  evangelizing  the  masses  can  our 
country  be  saved  from  the  fate  of  other  degenerate 
nations. 

(5.)  In  the  last  place,  I  appeal  for  Home  Missions 
from  the  standpoint  of  the  Cross  of  Christ.  The  appeal 
of  humanity,  the  claims  of  the  destitute,  the  "Mace- 
donian cry"  of  the  dying,  are  exceeded  in  pathos  and 
power  only  by  the  Cross  of  Christ.  If  "the  life  and 
death  of  Christ  are  the  model  and  type  of  all  mission- 
ary effort,"  there  cannot  be,  and  ought  not  to  be,  any 
greater  or  stronger  appeal  to  the  Church  than  the  Cross. 

The  Church  of  the  Redeemer  now  needs,  as  never 
before  in  her  history,  men  to  make  sacrifices  for  Christ, 
that  they  may  be  able  to  furnish  the  means  for  giving 
the  Gospel  to  those  "scattered  abroad  as  sheep  having 
no  shepherd."  The  Church  needs  consecrated  minis- 
ters who  are  willing  to  make  the  sacrifice  of  themselves 
for  Christ,  leaving  comfortable  places  for  the  sake  of 
the  unevangelized  masses. 

Gathered  around  the  crucified,  but  now  risen,  Christ, 
the  eleven  disciples  had  given  to  them  the  most  power- 
ful object  lesson,  the  most  irresistible  appeal  of  history: 
"And  when  He  had  thus  spoken.  He  showed  them 
His  hands  and  His  feet."  Those  hands  were  pierced 
hands,  and  those  feet  were  pierced  feet!  It  was  an 
object  lesson  exhibiting  the  cost  of  redemption.  It 
was  an  appeal  for  sacrifice  and  service,  based  upon  the 
Cross. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  95 

No  wonder  they  went  from  the  presence  of  those 
pierced  hands  and  feet  and  "turned  the  world  upside 
down"!  Would  to  God  the  Church  could  see  those 
pierced  hands  and  feet  to-day,  mutely,  passionately, 
powerfully  appeaUng  for  sacrifice  and  service,  seem- 
ingly saying: — 

"  I  gave,  I  gave  My  life  for  thee, 
My  precious  blood  I  shed; 
What  hast  thou  given  for  Me?"  , 

/ 


a  Centura  of  iffoteign  j^i^^iom 


Address  by  Rev.  Francis  R.  Beattie,  D.D.,  LL.  D., 

Of  the  Presbyterian  Theological  Seminary  of  Kentucky, 
Louisville,  Ky. 


IN  these  delightful  and  uplifting  commemorative  serv- 
ices we  are  dealing  with  centuries.  On  Sabbath 
morning  Rev.  Dr.  Strickler  told  us  in  a  splendid 
way  of  the  precious  doctrines  of  grace  which  we 
hold  so  dear,  and  which  we  believe  are  destined  to 
endure  through  all  the  centuries.  Then,  on  Sabbath 
night,  Rev.  Dr.  Morris  recited  in  a  thrilling  manner 
the  noble  story  of  a  century's  work  for  Home  Mis- 
sions in  our  own  country.  Then,  again,  this  morning, 
the  inspiring  and  romantic  narrative  of  the  career 
and  service  of  this  Church  through  the  century,  which 
was  so  carefully  prepared  by  Mrs.  Branch  and  so 
finely  read  by  Dr.  Plunket,  greatly  informed  and 
deeply  moved  us  all. 

And  now,  before  I  begin  my  address,  permit  me, 
in  a  simple,  informal  way,  to  say  a  word  on  my  own 
behalf  and  on  behalf  of  the  Seminary  in  which  it  is 
my  privilege  to  serve  the  Church.  We  unite  with 
you  in  your  glad  expressions  of  joy  and  gratitude 
for  all  the  goodness  of  God  to  your  beloved  church 
during  the  century  just  now  closing.  We  ask  the 
privilege  of  offering  to  you,  as  pastor  and  people  so 

(97) 


98  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

happily  associated  together,  our  sincere  congratula- 
tions for  the  blessing  and  prosperity  which  are  yours 
at  the  present  time.  And  we  desire  to  rejoice  with 
you  all  in  the  earnest  prayer  that  you  may  be  even 
more  richly  blessed  and  more  largely  useful  in  the 
new  century  of  life  and  service  upon  which  you  are 
now  entering.  Our  humble  and  sincere  prayer  is  that 
the  blessing  of  the  Triune  Jehovah,  which  maketh 
rich  and  addeth  no  sorrow,  may  always  abide  with 
you,  so  that  what  you  are  and  what  you  do  may 
ever  be  for  the  glory  of  the  Name  that  is  above 
every  name. 

And  now  to-night  we  are  to  seek  to  scan  the  cen- 
tury once  more,  and  this  time  to  try  to  rehearse  the 
splendid  story  of  enterprise  and  achievement  in  the 
field  of  Foreign  Missions,  which  is  the  story  of  the 
marvellous  results  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ  in  heathen 
lands  and  among  pagan  peoples. 

But  what  a  task  is  this  for  a  single  address!  What 
a  theme  for  even  a  whole  hour's  discourse!  It  cer- 
tainly is  a  task  for  the  speaker  to  try  to  tell  the 
story  even  in  part,  and  I  fear  that  the  auditor  may 
find  it  a  serious  task  to  listen  to  it.  At  the  very 
outset  the  present  speaker  must  confess  his  utter  in- 
ability to  sketch  even  in  graphic  outline  the  heroic 
and  thrilling  narrative  of  the  marvellous  results,  the 
audacious  enterprise,  and  the  remarkable  victories  of 
the  Gospel  during  the  century  past.  In  taking  up  the 
honorable  and  not  unwelcome  duty  laid  upon  us  we 
must  use  the  telescope  rather  than  the  microscope. 
We  must  think  in  centuries  rather  than  in  decades. 
We  count  in  the  arithmetic  of  the  Divine  purpose 
rather  than  in  that  of  human  affairs,  and  we  must 
look  out  over  large  landscapes  from  lofty  places  rather 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  99 

than  scan  details  from  a  low  altitude.  Yes,  we  must 
see  visions  rather  than  explore  nooks  and  comers ;  and 
we  shall  surely  be  wise  to  try  to  catch  some  inspira- 
tion rather  than  impart  much  specific  information. 

But  what  do  we  mean  by  "A  Century  of  Foreign 
Missions"?  It  is  really  the  entire  history  of  the 
modern  missionary  movement,  the  secret  of  which  is 
the  spirit  and  ambitions  of  the  early  Apostolic  Church, 
and  the  outcome  of  which  is  the  reproduction  of  the 
marvels  of  the  early  days  of  Christianity.  For,  while 
it  is  true  that  the  Moravians  and  some  others  had 
caught  from  the  Head  of  the  Church,  through  the 
pages  of  His  prophetic  Word,  the  true  vision  of  the 
mission  of  the  Church  in  the  world,  more  than  a 
century  ago,  it  is  also  true,  too  sadly  true,  that  the 
Church,  as  a  whole,  had  not  its  eyes  opened  to  be- 
hold this  matchless  vision.  And  while  a  few  men 
like  Zinzendorf  and  Eliot,  Brainerd  and  Carey  were 
filled  with  a  holy  ambition  and  a  burning  zeal  to 
bring  the  saving  message  of  the  Gospel  to  the  most 
degraded  of  the  human  race,  yet  it  must  be  con- 
fessed that  a  century  ago  this  ambition  and  zeal  did 
not  possess  the  Church  at  large  to  any  great  extent. 
There  may  have  been  some  partial  reasons  for  this 
in  the  conditions  of  the  times.  For  several  centuries 
after  the  Reformation  the  Protestant  Church  was  en- 
gaged in  controversy  with  Romanism  and  in  debates 
within  her  own  borders.  She  was  also  called  on  to 
suffer  sore  persecutions,  and  to  settle  the  vexed  ques- 
tion of  the  relations  of  Church  and  State.  These 
things  occupied  the  attention  of  the  Church  and  en- 
listed most  of  her  energies,  and  may  explain,  in  part 
at  least,  the  indifference  of  the  Church  to  the  prob- 
lem   of    the    evangelization    of    the    world.     But    just 


100  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

about  a  century  ago  the  Church  awoke  to  a  sense  of 
her  duty  and  privilege  in  this  matter,  and  she  was 
almost  bom  again  touching  the  import  of  her  com- 
mission from  her  risen  and  reigning  Head,  in  regard 
to  her  mission  to  the  wide  world  lying  in  darkness 
and  sin.  When  she  began  to  better  understand  her 
commission  to  go  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the 
Gospel  to  every  creature,  she  soon  came  more  clearly 
to  see  what  the  scope  and  aim  of  her  mission  among 
men  everywhere  should  be. 

And  now  to-night  we  are  to  stand  on  the  splendid 
vantage  ground  of  "A  Century  of  Foreign  Missions," 
and  place  to  our  willing  eyes  the  telescope  of  the  Di- 
vine vision,  and  scan  the  passing  decades  of  the  cen- 
tury whose  days  have  just  been  numbered.  As  we 
do  so  devoutly  and  earnestly,  many  wonderful  things 
shall  surely  meet  our  view,  and  our  vision  shall  not 
be  in  vain  if  we  are  deeply  moved  to  an  abiding 
devotion  to  the  risen  Lord,  and  stirred  to  greater 
activity  in  seeking  to  hasten  the  day  of  His  glorious 
appearing. 

.  The  First  Vision. 

First  of  all,  as  we  turn  the  telescope  upon  the 
Church  herself,  we  get  a  striking  vision.  This  vision 
is  a  strange  transformation  in  regard  to  the  place 
of  Foreign  Missions  in  purposes  and  prayers  of  the 
Church.  When  the  century  now  closing  opened,  the 
Church  as  a  whole  was  almost  totally  unconcerned 
about  the  religious  welfare  of  the  heathen,  and  largely 
ignorant  of  the  real  conditions  of  pagan  peoples  gen- 
erally. And  what  was  still  worse,  she  seemed  to  be 
largely  indifferent  as  to  her  own  duty  and  privilege 
to   give  the  Word  of  God  and  the   Bread  of  Life  to 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  101 

those  perishing  for  lack  of  these  very  things.  But 
as  we  behold  the  vision  before  us,  we  find  all  this 
changed.  Decade  by  decade  the  Church  began  to 
hear  and  attentively  listen  to  two  distinct  yet  Divine 
voices  calhng  to  her.  The  one  was  the  voice  of  the 
Master  Himself,  asking,  "Who  will  go?"  and  saying 
in  tones  of  authority,  "Go  ye,"  "Go  ye."  The  other 
was  the  voice  of  the  Man  of  Macedonia  in  many  a 
dark  and  hopeless  land,  saying,  "Come  over  and 
help  us,"  "Come  over  and  help  us." 

By  degrees  and  by  Divine  grace  the  deaf  ears  of 
the  Church  were  unstopped  during  the  decades  of 
the  past  century,  till  now,  at  its  close,  they  are  very 
attentive  to  both  of  these  pleading  voices.  The  eyes 
which  were  blind  to  the  view  of  the  whole  world 
bowing  in  submission  to  Jesus  now  enthroned,  have  at 
the  end  of  the  century  been  divinely  opened  to  gaze 
in  rapture  upon  this  vision.  The  then  idle  hands  of 
God's  people,  who  are  the  children  of  a  King,  have 
been  lifted  up  and  nerved  for  active  service  in  His 
kingdom.  And  the  tardy  feet  of  the  King's  messen- 
gers as  they  then  were,  are  now  found,  as  the  cen- 
tury ends,  ready  to  run  everywhere  to  do  His  bid- 
ding in  errands  of  mercy  and  deeds  of  love.  And 
the  firmly  fastened  purse-strings  of  a  hundred  years 
ago  have  now  been  unloosed  in  the  pockets  of  the 
Lord's  stewards,  and  their  treasures  are  now  cheer- 
fully poured  into  His  coffers,  to  be  used  in  the  divine 
ministry  of  saving  that  which  was  lost  everywhere. 
And,  last  of  all,  many  earnest  hearts  are  now  to  be 
seen,  praying  as  never  before — "Thy  kingdom  come. 
Thy  will  be  done  in  earth,  as  it  is    in  heaven." 

The  evidence  of  this  rebirth  of  the  missionary  im- 
pulse in  the   Church  lies  in   the   fact  that  missionary 


102  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

societies  of  various  kinds  were  formed  about  a  century 
ago.  The  Baptist  Missionary  Society  was  founded  in 
1792;  and  Carey  and  his  devoted  little  band  went  to 
India,  almost  unnoticed  by  the  big,  busy  world  about, 
in  1793.  The  London  Missionary  Society  dates  from 
1795,  and  the  Scottish  Missionary  Society  came  into 
existence  a  year  later,  in  1796.  Then  came  the  Neth- 
erland  Society  in  1797,  and  the  Church  Missionary  So- 
ciety in  1799.  Out  of  this  same  general  missionary 
movement  came  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, in  1804,  which  became  the  parent  of  all  the 
branches,  now  about  eighty  in  all,  found  in  every 
part  of  the  wide  world. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  this  church  in  Augusta, 
Georgia,  whose  centennial  we  are  now  observing,  was 
founded  in  the  selfsame  year  as  the  British  and  For- 
eign Bible  Society.  Both  are  now  one  hundred  years 
of  age.  A  little  later  in  this  country,  the  American 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions  was  established.  This  was 
in  1810;  and  for  many  years  this  Board  represented 
almost  the  entire  organized  missionary  activity  of 
the  various  Churches  in  this  land,  till  later  on  the 
different  Churches  each  took  up  the  Foreign  Mission 
work  and  made  it  part  of  its  proper  activity.  It 
is  to  be  noted  that  during  the  early  decades  of  the 
century  now  ending  most  of  the  missionary  societies 
already  named  were  made  up  and  organized,  not  by 
the  Churches  taking  formal  action  as  missionary  in- 
stitutes, but  rather  by  the  banding  together  in  a  vol- 
untary way  of  companies  of  earnest  spirits,  who  had 
caught  a  vision  of  the  duty  of  the  Church  towards  the 
heathen,  and  had  felt  a  Divine  impulse  to  bring  to  all 
nations  the  saving  health  of  the  Gospel.  And  strange 
as  it  may  be  to  us  now,  one  of  the  very  first  things 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  103 

which  these  devout  spirits  had  to  do  was  to  waken 
up  the  Churches  that  they  might  behold  the  pathetic 
vision  of  the  world  lying  in  sin  and  misery,  and  mak- 
ing its  mute  appeal  for  the  help  and  healing  of  the 
Great  Physician.  Carey,  Judson,  Duff,  and  others 
of  their  day  had  much  to  do  in  rousing  the  sleeping 
Church  of  Christ  to  a  sense  of  its  duty  and  privilege 
in  this  respect.  And  what  heroism  appears  in  these 
men!  They  had  to  face,  not  only  the  fearful  dangers 
and  terrible  difficulties  of  the  heathen  world,  but  they 
had  to  sound  again  and  again  a  clarion  note  of  alarm 
in  the  ears  of  a  seemingly  heedless  Church  at  home. 
But  by  degrees  the  Churches  were  aroused,  and  came 
to  realize  that  the  very  genius  of  Christianity  is  to  go 
everywhere  preaching  the  Gospel.  And  in  the  course 
of  time  it  was  more  or  less  clearly  understood  that  the 
Church  herself  is  the  only  divinely  appointed,  organ- 
ized, and  equipped  missionary  society. 

This,  then,  is  the  first  vision  which  the  century  of 
missions  reveals  to  us.  At  its  beginning  the  man  who 
spoke  of  evangelizing  the  heathen  was  regarded  as  a 
visionary  or  a  fanatic,  and  was  perhaps  told  to  keep 
silence  in  the  courts  of  the  Church.  But  now,  at  the 
end  of  the  century,  the  man  who  would  express  op- 
position to  Foreign  Missions  would  surely  be  regarded 
as  a  crank  or  a  fool,  and  be  quickly  told  he  was  out 
of  order  in  any  courts  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  Second  Vision. 

From  the  vantage  ground  of  a  century  of  Foreign 
Missions  we  behold  another  wonderful  vision.  On 
this  we  wish  to  turn  your  open  eyes  for  a  time.  The 
missionary  movement  has  proved  a  mighty  factor  in 
the   world's   economic   progress   and   material   civiliza- 


104  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

tion.  This  vision  should  not  be  overlooked  in  our 
present  survey.  There  is  a  tendency  on  the  part  of 
many  people  to  think  that  dollars  and  cents  and  busi- 
ness enterprise  are  the  main  elements  in  the  economic 
welfare  and  material  prosperity  of  the  modem  civil- 
ized world.  A  little  reflection  will  surely  show  that 
this  is  a  quite  superficial  view.  Back  of  the  dollars 
and  cents  and  the  material  prosperity,  somewhere 
there  will  be  discovered  the  Gospel,  and  behind  the 
man  of  commerce  and  trade  there  will  be  found  some- 
where the  missionary  of  the  Cross.  The  truth  of 
this  can  be  verified  in  every  pagan  land  to  which  the 
Gospel  has  come  during  the  past  century.  Where  the 
people  in  these  lands  come  under  the  influence  of  the 
Gospel  at  the  hands  of  the  missionary,  increase  in  all 
kinds  of  trade  takes  place;  business  of  all  sorts  opens 
up,  and  commerce  expands  in  a  wonderful  way.  This 
movement  in  material  things  very  naturally  grows 
out  of  the  quickened  intelligence,  the  larger  needs 
of  human  life,  and  the  increased  security  of  life  and 
property  which  the  Gospel  of  life  and  peace,  of  truth 
and  righteousness  engenders.  Note  the  difference  be- 
tween North  and  South  America  to-day,  or  between 
any  Protestant  Christian  land  and  any  purely  pagan 
community  in  full  proof  of  this. 

In  the  last  analysis  the  onward  march  of  civiliza- 
tion, with  its  wonderful  inventions,  extensive  manu- 
factures, and  almost  limitless  commerce,  is  due  directly 
or  indirectly  to  the  wonderful  power  of  the  Gospel 
exerted  upon  people  in  any  land.  The  Gospel  has 
cleared  away  the  forests  and  tilled  the  fertile  fields; 
it  has  built  factories  and  constructed  railways;  and 
it  has  put  the  reins  upon  steam  and  harnessed  the 
lightning.     If   anything  has   been    made    plain    during 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  105 

the  past  century  it  is  this  fact.  The  humble,  devoted 
Foreign  Missionary  has  led  the  vanguard  of  the  civili- 
zation of  the  world,  and  the  Gospel  is  the  secret  of 
material  prosperity.  Take  these  away  and  barba- 
rism and  material  decay  will  surely  come.  The  whole 
fabric  of  modern  civilization  would  crumble  into  ruins, 
and  material  wealth  would  soon  melt  away.  Peoples 
would  revert  to  the  barbaric  state,  the  earth  would 
return  to  its  original  wilderness  condition,  and  na- 
tions would  fall  into  ruins  everywhere.  In  this  day 
of  our  boasted  modem  civilization,  let  us  never  forget 
the  services  of  the  missionary,  and  what  a  grand  con- 
tribution to  this  civilization  the  Gospel  message  has 
always  made.  This  is  our  second  vision,  and  one  of 
great  import. 

The  Third  Vision. 

Still  another  splendid  vision  appears  in  view  from 
the  vantage  ground  of  a  century  of  Foreign  Missions. 
This  vision  reveals  the  immense  store  of  useful  knowl- 
edge which  the  missionary  movement  has  brought 
into  the  possession  of  humanity.  The  contribution 
which  the  foreign  missionary  movement  has  made  in 
an  educational  way  is  far  greater  than  we  are  apt  to 
think.  The  world's  culture  to-day  would  be  greatly 
the  poorer  were  it  not  for  the  vast  and  varied  services 
of  the  devoted  missionary. 

We  think  now  not  so  much  of  the  schools  and  col- 
leges which  have  been  founded  by  missionary  endeavor, 
and  which  are  conducted  by  earnest  Christian  men 
and  women  in  heathen  lands,  but  rather  of  the  vast 
indirect  contributions  which  missionaries  have  made 
to  almost  every  department  of  scientific  knowledge. 
Take  the  matter  of  geography,  and  see  how  much  the 


106  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

missionary  has  done  in  giving  the  world  rehable  knowl- 
edge of  foreign  lands  and  pagan  peoples.  Africa, 
the  islands  of  the  sea,  and  many  places  in  the  distant 
Orient  have  been  opened  up,  and  maps  of  these  re- 
gions have  been  made  which  could  not  have  been  made 
were  it  not  for  the  travels  and  descriptions  of  mission- 
aries. In  proof  of  this  it  need  only  be  mentioned  that 
many  an  humble  missionary  has  been  honored  by 
membership  in  the  Royal  Geographical  Society. 

Then  in  the  study  of  language,  missionaries  have 
done  great  service.  In  reducing  unknown  tongues  to 
written  form,  in  producing  a  simple  literature  of  much 
value,  and  in  providing  valuable  materials  for  the 
philologist,  the  missionary  buried  in  heathen  darkness 
and  in  pagan  ignorance  has  done  the  world  of  letters 
a  great  and  lasting  service.  The  Bible  is  now  trans- 
lated, in  whole  or  in  part,  into  nearly  four  hundred 
languages  and  dialects.  The  service  which  the  mis- 
sionary has  rendered  to  what  is  now  known  as  scien- 
tific or  descriptive  anthropology  is  equally  valuable. 
By  his  residence  for  years  among  all  sorts  of  savage 
and  primitive  peoples  the  missionary  has  fine  oppor- 
tunities to  observe  the  habits  and  customs,  the  traits 
and  characteristics  of  these  peoples,  and  to  come  to  a 
better  understanding  of  their  social,  domestic,  civil, 
and  religious  condition  than  the  unlettered  trader  or 
the  hurried  traveler. 

Spencer  and  Tylor,  though  they  have  little  sympathy 
with  inissionary  activity,  yet  acknowledge  directly  and 
indirectly  in  their  writings  on  anthropology  and  soci- 
ology how  much  they  owe  to  the  missionary  in  all 
lands.  This  is  a  marked  feature  of  this  vision  now 
before  us.  The  missionary  is  usually  a  well-educated 
man ;  he  has  no  selfish  end  in  view,  he  has  good  powers 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  107 

of  observation  and  inference,  and  he  resides  for  years 
among  the  people  he  seeks  to  evangelize,  so  that  he 
is  well  qualified  to  render  this  useful  service  to  modem 
scientific  sociology  and  descriptive  anthropology. 

The  Fourth  Vision. 

Another  attractive  vision  rises  before  our  wondering 
eyes  as  we  scan  the  century  of  Foreign  Missions  now 
under  survey.  This  vision  is  the  central  one  of  all, 
and  the  grandest  and  the  best.  In  it  we  see  the  defi- 
nite religious  results  of  missions  during  the  century. 
This  is  the  direct  and  specific  product  of  missionary 
activity.  It  is  for  this  that  the  movement  exists,  and 
it  is  in  this  lies  its  Divine  reason  and  authority.  It 
is  to  teach  men  the  true  religion,  and  to  show  them 
the  way  of  life  by  Jesus  Christ.  But  how  shall  we  tell 
the  story  of  the  vision  we  now  behold?  Where  shall 
we  begin,  and  where  end,  the  thrilling  and  marvellous 
narrative  ? 

The  missionary  goes  forth  to  give  men  in  heathen 
darkness  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  living  and 
true  God;  he  undertakes  to  bring  the  ignorant  and 
superstitious  into  the  experience  of  the  renewing  power 
of  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  and  he  seeks  to  teach 
the  lawless  and  cruel  the  precepts  of  the  Word  of  God, 
that  they  may  learn  to  live  in  peace  and  purity  together. 
In  a  word,  he  seeks  to  bring  the  remedy  which  the  Gos- 
pel supplies  to  bear  upon  all  the  awful  ills  which  pre- 
vail among  savage  men,  and  to  prepare  them  for  right 
lives  here  and  a  blessed  home  in  the  world  to  come. 
And  in  our  vision,  we  see  the  devoted  bands  of  heroic 
men  and  women  in  every  land,  moved  by  the  love  of 
Christ,  and  prompted  by  love  to  their  fellow-men,  seek- 
ing to  teach  and  to  win,  to  save  and  sanctify  these 


108  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

multitudes,  who  are  going  down  to  the  grave  with  no 
help  nor  hope.  The  world  elsewhere  has  no  such  vis- 
ion as  this.  And  in  close  connection  with  this  dis- 
tinctly religious  work  we  see  these  same  men  and 
women  seeking  to  alleviate  the  terrible  ills  of  human 
life  which  affect  savage  peoples.  We  see  the  hospital 
and  the  dispensary,  where  the  medical  missionary,  after 
the  manner  of  Christ,  is  healing  all  manner  of  disease 
among  the  people,  as  well  as  caring  for  their  souls.  We 
see  the  homes  for  orphan  children,  and  for  the  aged 
and  the  helpless,  and  it  appears  as  if  Jesus  was  again 
among  men  going  about  doing  good,  as  He  did  in  the 
days  of  His  flesh.  We  see  schools  formed  where  the 
children  are  taught,  and  colleges  established,  where 
young  men  may  be  trained  for  useful  life  service,  or 
be  fitted  to  teach  and  preach  the  Gospel  as  native 
helpers  and  evangelists.  We  see  woman's  work  for 
women  in  the  zenanas,  and  the  leper  house  with  its 
Good  Samaritan  service,  and  every  other  form  of  Divine 
ministry  in  our  vision. 

To  catch  the  magnitude  of  the  vision  a  few  figures 
may  give  the  result  in  a  graphic  way.  We  see  nearly 
four  hundred  missionary  societies  at  work  in  all  lands 
to-day;  about  ten  thousand  missionaries,  with  over 
forty-five  thousand  native  helpers,  are  engaged  in  this 
self-denying  work.  There  are  over  one  million  con- 
verts professing  to  be  followers  of  Christ  in  pagan 
lands,  and  there  are  perhaps  five  millions  or  more  to 
some  degree  under  Christian  influence.  There  are 
nearly  eighty  thousand  young  men  and  women  in 
higher  or  collegiate  educational  institutes,  and  perhaps 
seven  hundred  thousand  in  primary  schools  conducted 
by  missionary  agencies  to-day.  The  number  of  addi- 
tions to  the  membership  of  the   Church  is  greater  in 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  109 

proportion  to  the  number  of  workers  than  in  Chris- 
tian lands,  and  the  devotion  of  the  native  converts 
to  their  Lord  and  Master  is  far  beyond  what  we  might 
expect  in  the  circumstances.  The  faithfulness  even 
unto  death  of  the  great  majority  of  the  converts  in 
China  during  the  Boxer  troubles  of  a  few  years  ago, 
fully  confirms  this,  and  forever  refutes  the  slander 
that  most  of  the  Chinese  converts  were  "rice  Chris- 
tians." The  devotion  and  heroism  of  apostolic  days 
were  surely  reproduced  in  our  own  time  as  proof  of 
the  abiding  power  of  the  Gospel  to  save  sinful  men. 
In  this  vision  we  see  what  our  own  Church  is  doing, 
and  are  glad.  In  Mexico  and  Brazil,  in  China  and 
Corea,  in  Japan,  on  the  Congo,  and  in  Cuba,  the  "  Pearl 
of  the  Antilles,"  we  see  our  sons  and  daughters  toiling 
with  their  converts  and  workers  about  them.  For 
forty  years  we  have  been  at  work,  and  now  upwards 
of  one  hundred  and  eighty  missionaries  are  in  the  field, 
and  this  year  the  gifts  of  our  people  were  over  $236,000, 
which  is  about  a  dollar  a  member  for  this  cause.  The 
home  Church  seems  stirred  with  deeper  interest,  our 
young  men  and  women  are  going  forth  to  the  field ,  and 
we  are  made  glad. 

The  Fifth  Vision. 

Yet  a  fifth  positive  vision  remains,  as  we  stand  on 
our  present  elevation  and  look  back  over  the  century 
just  ended  and  see  what  Foreign  Missions  have  done. 
This  vision  consists  in  the  irresistible  apologetic  which 
the  century  provides  for  our  Christian  heritage,  and 
the  inherent  power  of  the  Gospel  to  save  and  civilize 
men.  A  century  ago  it  was  possible  to  doubt  the 
potency  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ  to  conquer  other  faiths 
and  supplant  other  systems  of  religion,  for  the  reason 


110  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

that  in  modern  times  Christianity  had  not  been  ar- 
rayed in  battle  against  them.  But  this  is  all  changed 
by  the  vision  of  a  century  of  Foreign  Missions.  The 
inherent  power  of  the  Gospel  has  been  made  evident 
in  every  pagan  land  and  among  diverse  heathen  peo- 
ples. The  superiority  of  the  Christian  system  over 
every  other  is  evident  by  its  superior  fruitage  in  every 
land  where  the  conflict  has  been  joined.  Such  fruit 
can  come  only  from  a  good  tree.  This  is  indubitable. 
And  the  argument  from  Christian  experience  is  as 
clear  and  effective  as  it  was  in  apostolic  days  in  all 
heathen  fields.  The  simple  faith,  the  heroic  courage, 
the  noble  self-sacrifice,  and  the  large  liberality  of  the 
converts  from  heathenism  in  every  place  where  they 
are  to  be  found  are  self-evident,  so  that  when  we  see 
these  things  we  cannot  doubt  the  final  triumph  of  the 
Cross,  or  the  Divine  efficacy  of  the  Gospel  to  save  men. 
One  wishes  for  more  time  than  is  at  our  disposal  to 
illustrate  this  aspect  of  our  splendid  vision.  But 
time  fails  to  tell  how,  against  all  forms  of  superstition 
and  every  type  of  fetichism,  Christianity  is  to-day 
prevailing.  Let  Patagonia  and  Madagascar  and  the 
islands  of  the  South  Sea  and  the  wilds  of  Africa  rise 
up  and  tell  the  story.  And  against  more  definite  sys- 
tems like  Brahmanism,  Buddhism,  and  Confucianism 
Christianity  is  equally  potent,  and  has  the  pledge  of 
ultimate  victory.  These  systems  are  being  gradually 
discredited,  and  their  very  foundations  are  becoming 
insecure.  The  caste  system,  the  burning  of  widows, 
and  the  drowning  of  children  are  gradually  coming 
to  an  end.  The  result  is,  that  alike  on  the  theoretical 
and  practical  sides,  the  Christian  system  is  vindica- 
ting itself  to  be  supreme,  and  giving  unquestioned 
proof  that  one  day  it  will  sway  the  sceptre  of  universal 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  Ill 

dominion  in  the  realm  of  religion.  Jesus  Christ  will 
conquer  Islam  and  Hinduism  and  Buddhism  and 
Confucianism,  and  take  to  Himself  His  great  power 
and  reign  from  the  rising  to  the  going  down  of  the 
sun.  His  dominion  shall  reach  from  one  end  of  the 
earth  to  the  other,  and  all  peoples  and  nations  and 
kindreds  and  tongues  shall  own  Him  Savior  and  Lord. 

The  Sixth  Vision. 

Looking  back  along  the  vista  of  the  century  past, 
we  have  seen  five  glorious  visions.  Now,  ere  we  close, 
let  us  turn  the  telescope  forward  to  the  future,  and  let 
us  try  to  catch  through  the  mists  which  hang  low  over 
the  future,  some  outline  of  the  vision  which  the  com- 
ing century  may  slowly  but  surely  bring  before  our 
wondering  eyes.  What  shall  the  decades  of  this  cen- 
tury unfold  of  God's  dealings  with  men,  and  in  the 
progress  of  the  Church?  Shall  we  not  see  missionaries 
going  in  goodly  numbers  into  every  land  ?  shall  we  not 
see  native  churches  established  among  all  peoples? 
and  shall  not  Jesus  of  Nazareth  be  known,  trusted, 
and  served  everywhere? 

The  future  is  "as  bright  as  the  promises  of  God," 
and  as  sure  as  His  purposes.  A  world  wholly  Christian 
and  prevailingly  righteous,  a  world  where  peace  reigns 
and  prosperity  abides,  is  what  in  our  vision  we  see. 
The  evils  in  society  and  the  ills  of  the  individual  shall 
be  all  mitigated  or  cured,  the  cruelty  and  injustice  of 
man  with  his  fellow  shall  have  an  end,  and  oppres- 
sion shall  nowhere  be  known.  Such  is  but  a  glimpse  of 
what  this  forward  vision  may  in  fancy  suggest.  Alex- 
ander wept  because  there  was  not  another  world  to 
conquer,  but  the  Church  during  the  coming  century 
may    rejoice    that    she    has    conquered,    as    Alexander 


112  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

never  did,  the  whole  world,  not  by  force  of  arms,  but 
by  the  solvent  of  love.  The  Caesars  sought  universal 
empire,  and  only  partly  succeeded,  but  the  time  is 
surely  coming  when  Jesus  Christ  shall  sway  the  sceptre 
of  the  world's  widest  dominion.  Napoleon  spread 
terror  over  Europe  for  a  generation,  and  spent  his 
closing  days  in  lonely  St.  Helena,  but  Jesus  Christ 
spreads  life  and  joy  and  peace  everywhere,  and  with 
His  people  will  dwell  forever  amid  the  glories  of  the 
New  Jerusalem.  For  this  splendid  consummation, 
money,  men,  and  earnest  prayer  are  needed.  The 
money  is  already  in  the  purses  of  God's  people,  and 
needs  only  to  be  consecrated  and  given  as  good  stew- 
ards should  give  it.  Men  and  women  are  offering 
their  services  and  are  ready  to  go,  so  that  the  human 
agency  is  provided,  and  the  doors  are  wide  open  in 
almost  every  country  in  our  day.  Prayer  is  needed 
that  the  spirit  of  God  may  be  poured  out.  Think  of 
Elijah  on  Carmel.  He  prayed,  and  the  cloud  of  the 
size  of  a  man's  hand  appeared.  He  prayed  on,  and 
the  cloud  covered  the  whole  heavens,  and  there  was 
abundant  rain  in  all  that  region.  So  in  answer  to 
prayer  the  Spirit  will  be  poured  out  as  rain  upon  the 
mown  grass  and  as  showers  to  water  the  thirsty  ground. 
Thus  the  needed  power  from  on  high  will  be  given. 

You  have  seen  the  munitions  of  war  before  the  strong 
citadel.  There  is  the  cannon,  which  is  a  large  piece 
of  cold  and  harmless  metal.  There  is  the  powder,  like 
harmless  gravel  in  your  hand.  And  there  is  the  ball, 
a  heavy  lump  of  metal  capable  of  doing  no  harm. 
But  watch  and  wait.  Let  that  powder  be  put  in  that 
cold  cannon,  and  let  that  heavy  ball  be  placed  in  its 
position,  and  yet  no  harm  is  done  to  the  strong  for- 
tress frowning  above.    But  watch  and  wait.    See!  the 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  113 

match  is  lit  and  applied;  and  then  the  flash  and  the 
crash,  and  the  dismantled  fortress  and  the  defeated 
foe!  So  in  the  assault  of  the  Church  by  her  mission- 
ary endeavors  upon  the  strongholds  of  sin  and  the  cita- 
dels of  heathenism  in  the  world.  They  shall  be  cap- 
tured some  day  by  the  power  of  the  Spirit  of  God 
vitalizing  the  entire  Church,  and  making  all  her  forces 
potent. 

Fire  from  on  high  is  needed  to  give  efficacy  to  every 
missionary  agency,  and  to  conquer  the  whole  world 
for  its  rightful  Lord  and  King.  Then  "Jesus  shall 
reign  where'er  the  sun  does  his  successive  journeys 
run."  This  is  the  vision  of  the  century  on  which  we 
are  now  entering.  May  this  grand  old  Church  do  her 
good  share  in  this  consummation,  as  she  has  done  in 
realizing  the  victories  of  the  century  which  has  been 
laid  away  in  eternity. 


ptt^ti^ttviani^m  anD  CDucation 


By  Rev.  F.  H.  Gaines,  D.  D., 

President  Agnes  Scott  Institute,  Decatur,  Ga. 


THE  word  Presbyterian  is  descriptive  of  a  form 
of  Church  government,  namely,  a  government 
by  Presbyters.  But  inasmuch  as  nearly  all 
Presbyterian  bodies  are  Calvinists,  the  word  suggests 
to  most  minds  the  Calvinistic  faith.  I  use  the  word 
in  the  broad  sense  to  represent  all  the  Presbyterian 
Church  stands  for  in  polity  and  doctrine.  No  presen- 
tation of  Presbyterianism  could  be  called  rounded  and 
full  without  a  consideration  of  its  relation  to  education. 
One  of  the  Church's  most  distinctive  features  has  been 
the  high  and  persistent  stand  it  has  maintained  in 
education.  She  has  always  demanded  the  highest  edu- 
cational qualification  of  her  ministry,  encouraged  and 
sought  the  widest  intelligence  in  her  membership,  and 
been  the  patron  of  learning.  But  in  view  of  the  wide- 
spread interest  in  education,  and  especially  the  marked 
revival  of  interest  and  effort  in  this  cause  in  all  our 
borders,  it  is  peculiarly  appropriate  that  this  subject 
should  have  due  consideration  on  this  occasion. 
I  invite  you  to  make  a  brief  survey  of — 

I.  The  relation  of  Presbyterianism  to  Education  in 
the  past. 

In  Scotland,  as  early  as  1558,  John  Knox,  in  his  "Brief 
Exhortation  to  England,"  urged  that  "for  the  preser- 
vation of  religion,  schools  be  universally  erected  in  all 

(115) 


116  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

cities  and  towns."  Renewing  this  appeal  in  1560,  he 
maintained  that  such  schools  ought  to  be  supported, 
if  need  be,  by  the  Kirk.  This  seed  bore  abundant 
fruit  afterward.  The  Kirk  of  Scotland  through  its 
General  Assemblies  repeatedly  indorsed  the  sentiment 
expressed  by  Knox,  and  took  action  accordingly. 

"In  1695  it  was  enacted  that  there  be  a  school 
founded  and  a  schoolmaster  appointed  in  every  parish 
by  advice  of  the  Presbyteries.  *  *  *  This  was  the 
foundation  of  a  system  of  schools  under  which  the 
Scottish  people  in  the  eighteenth  century  became 
more  generally  educated  than  any  other  in  Europe." 
(Am.  Enc,  Art.  Scotland.) 

"Side  by  side,"  says  Rev.  W.  W.  Moore,  D.  D., 
"with  Presbyterian  Scotland  in  the  educational  van- 
guard stood  Presbyterian  Holland,  responding  nobly  to 
the  memorable  words  of  John  of  Nassau:  'You  must 
urge  upon  the  States  General,  that  they  establish  free 
schools.'  They  were  established  all  over  the  Nether- 
lands, and  the  New  England  Pilgrims  found  them  there 
and  brought  with  them  to  America  the  same  great 
system.  Wherever  these  pilgrims  and  the  Presbyte- 
rian emigrants  from  Scotland  and  Holland  settled  in 
the  wilds  of  the  new  world,  there  the  schoolhouse 
was  built  beside  the  church."  (Educational  Value  of 
Presbyterianism,  page  7.) 

When  we  come  to  trace  the  relation  of  Presbyterian- 
ism to  education  in  our  oivn  cotintry,  we  find  that  not 
only  is  the  "common-school  system  indebted  for  its 
existence  chiefly  to  that  same  stream  of  influence  which 
flowed  from  Geneva  through  Scotland  and  Holland  to 
the  American  Colonies  "  (Moore),  but  the  provision  for 
higher  education  in  the  academies  and  "log  colleges," 
and  afterwards  the  great  colleges,  is  due  very  largely 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH.  117 

to  Presbyterians  and  other  Calvinists.  The  author  of 
the  article  on  Calvinism  in  the  Presbyterian  Encyclo- 
pedia says:  "Hence  Calvinism  has  been  the  source  not 
only  of  the  common-school  system  as  it  exists  in  our 
own  country,  but  of  almost  every  one  of  our  earlier  col- 
leges and  Universities;  notably  Harvard,  Yale,  Prince- 
ton, Union,  Bowdoin,  Dartmouth,  Rutgers,  Dickinson, 
Washington  and  Jefferson,  Middlebury,  Hampden-Sid- 
ney,  Amherst,  Lafayette,  and  Hamilton,  not  to  men- 
tion more  recent  enterprises.  For  generations  nearly 
the  entire  cultivated  mind  of  the  country  was  under  its 
training  and  stamped  with  its  peculiar  impress." 

Coming  to  our  own  State,  I  beg  to  quote  from  the 
late  Rev.  J.  S.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  a  prominent  member  of 
this  Synod:  "The  most  important  enterprise  ever  en- 
tered upon  by  any  ecclesiastical  body  in  the  State  had 
its  inception  at  the  session  of  Hopewell  Presbytery,  at 
Thyatira  Church,  in  the  Spring  of  1823.  This  was  the 
formation  of  the  Georgia  Educational  Society.  Out  of 
this  enterprise  arose  the  whole  movement  of  denomi- 
national education  of  the  State.  To  it  we  trace  the 
existence  of  Oglethorpe  University,  Emory  College,  and 
Mercer  University."     (Necrology,  page  29.) 

The  above  testimony  of  historians  clearly  shows  that 
for  over  three  hundred  years  Presbyterians  were  the 
leaders  in  education.  They  urged  its  necessity,  they 
founded  schools,  they  organized  a  system  of  education, 
they  were  educators,  and  made  great  sacrifices  to 
promote  it.  Shall  their  illustrious  example  fail  to 
impress  us? 

II.  Presbyterianism  and  Education  at  present. 

While  history  shows  that  the  Presbyterian  Church 
easily  held  the   leading  place   in   education   for  three 


118  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

centuries,  yet  it  is  a  deplorable  fact  that  Ichabod  must 
now  be  written  upon  her  brow.  She  who  was  once 
first  must  now  take  the  third  place.  I  am  telling  no 
secret  when  I  state  that  the  Methodist  Church  in  the 
country  at  large  is  far  in  the  lead  in  the  number  of 
institutions,  in  the  number  of  professors,  in  the  number 
of  students,  and  second  in  the  amount  of  endowment. 
That  the  Baptist  Church  is  in  the  lead  in  the  amount  of 
endowment,  second  in  number  of  professors,  second  in 
number  of  students,  and  third  in  number  of  institutions. 
That  the  Presbyterian  Church  is  second  in  number  of 
institutions,  third  in  number  of  students,  and  fourth 
in  the  amount  of  endowment. 

Do  these  facts  indicate  that  the  Presbyterian  Church 
has  lost  her  power,  influence,  and  capacity  for  leader- 
ship in  this  great  cause?  I  think  not.  Nor  do  they  in- 
dicate that  she  has  lost  her  interest  in  education.  They 
do  indicate,  however,  a  loss  of  interest  in  Christian 
and  Church  education.  This  is  neither  the  time  nor 
the  place  to  discuss  the  causes,  but  there  are  now  un- 
mistakable signs  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  a  wide- 
spread revival  of  interest  in  this  cause.  This  brings 
me  to  the  next  general  head  of  my  subject. 

III.  Why  the  Presbyterian  Church  should  hasten  to 
renew  her  zeal  and  efforts  in  the  cause  of  Education. 

I  shall  not  attempt  an  exhaustive  discussion  of  this 
question,    but    present    only    three    principal    reasons. 

First. — Self-preservation. — If  our  Church  allows  the 
denominational  schools  of  other  Churches,  or  non- 
denominational  schools,  to  educate  her  youth  she  will 
inevitably  lose  a  part  of  them  altogether,  and  lose  her 
hold  to  a  degree  upon  the  remainder.  The  denomi- 
national school  necessarily  exerts  a  powerful  influence 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  119 

upon  the  student  body.  It  is  the  influence  of  atmos- 
phere, environment,  association,  teachers,  meeting 
and  hearing  the  best  representatives  of  the  denomi- 
nation. This  does  not  imply  any  effort  at  proselyting 
or  any  bad  faith  on  the  part  of  the  school.  The  causes 
work  silently  but  effectually.  In  the  case  of  the  non- 
denominational  school  there  is  lacking  that  strong 
religious  influence  so  potent  in  developing  and  shap- 
ing character  in  youth.  Consequently  the  student 
body  receives  no  religious  impression  during  the  im- 
pressible period  of  the  school  age.  In  either  case  the 
result  is  disastrous  to  the  Church. 

Closely  connected  with  this  reason  of  self-preserva- 
tion another  fact  must  be  remembered.  It  is  of  vital 
importance  that  our  Church  retain  her  hold  on  the 
educated  class.  This  class  is  not  only  the  most  in- 
fluential, but  the  controlling  class.  It  goes  without 
saying  that  the  Church  which  educates  this  class  will 
very  largely  mold,  direct,  and  control  it.  In  former 
years  that  is  what  the  Presbyterian  Church  did,  a 
fact  which  goes  far  to  account  for  the  influence  of  the 
Church,  an  influence  very  far  out  of  proportion  to  her 
numbers.  She  has  furnished  the  leaders  in  the  great 
crises  in  Church  and  State.  From  this  historic  posi- 
tion she  must  not  recede. 

Again,  from  the  denominational  school  come  most 
largely  our  supply  of  ministers  and  our  most  loyal  and 
best  trained  Christian  workers.  Need  I  pause  to  em- 
phasize the  significance  of  this  fact  at  a  time  when 
the  supply  of  ministers  is  sadly  inadequate  to  our 
needs,  and  at  a  time  when  a  supply  of  trained  Chris- 
tian workers  is  one  of  the  imperative  demands  of  all 
departments  of  our  Church  work — Home  Missions, 
Foreign  Missions,  Sabbath  school?     To  curtail  or  cut 


120  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

off  the  supply  of  either  ministers  or  trained  workers 
would  be  disastrous.  On  the  contrary,  our  growth  as 
a  Church  depends  upon  increasing  both  classes. 

In  view  of  these  facts  is  it  not  true  that  self-preser- 
vation as  a  Church  demands  an  immediate  and  earnest 
effort  in  the  cause  of  Christian  education? 

Second. — That  we  may  help  to  make  education  Chris- 
tian.— A  few  years  ago  I  was  in  the  home  of  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  Palmer,  of  New  Orleans.  A  short  time  be- 
fore a  large  educational  convention  had  met  in  that 
city.  Dr.  Palmer  said  to  me:  "I  was  astounded  at  the 
programme  announced  in  the  convention  by  one  of 
the  leading  men,  that  the  State  would  soon  control 
the  education  of  the  young  in  this  country."  The 
very  suggestion  had  stirred  him  deeply.  Such  a  re- 
sult he  regarded  not  only  as  deplorable  but  alarming. 
But  such  is  the  trend  of  the  times — to  have  educa- 
tion either  under  the  State  or  divorced  from  all  church 
influence.  Shall  it  be  so?  This  the  great  question 
of  the  hour:  Shall  education  be  Christian  or  non-Chris- 
tian? I  am  not  alone  in  thinking  that  on  this  issue 
the  next  great  battle  of  Christianity  is  to  be  fought. 
How  much  it  means  to  the  Church  and  to  the  world 
none  can  estimate.  I  have  not  a  word  to  say  against 
State  education;  many  true  and  noble  Christian  men 
and  women  are  engaged  in  it.  Not  only  so,  but  I  know 
of  no  other  agency  competent  to  undertake  the  educa- 
tion of  the  masses  except  the  State.  My  idea  is  not 
to  antagonize  the  State  school  or  the  undenominational 
school,  but  is  this:  Let  the  evangelical  churches  enter 
most  heartily  the  educational  field  and  establish  in- 
stitutions of  the  highest  grade  and  character,  institutions 
which  shall  teach  the  Bible  and  be  positively  Christian. 
Thus  will  they  not  only  educate  their  own  youth,  but 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  121 

will  set  the  highest  ideals  of  education,  formulate  a 
true  philosophy  of  education,  raise  up  and  develop 
Christian  leaders  in  education,  and  create  such  a  public 
sentiment  as  shall  demand  that  education  shall  be 
Christian.  To  accomplish  this  end  there  is  need 
for  all  work  possible  by  all  the  Churches.  Shall  the 
Presbyterian  Church  be  found  lagging  in  this  great 
battle  ? 

Third. — Because  the  doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  are  peculiarly  adapted  to  develop  the  highest  type 
of  character. 

If  this  be  true  it  lays  the  most  solemn  responsibiHty 
upon  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  matter  of  educa- 
tion. In  order  to  appreciate  the  force  of  this  state- 
ment we  must  consider  two  things: — 

(1.)  What  are  the  doctrines  of  Presbyterianism  ? 

(2.)  What  is  the  type  of  character  these  doctrines 
have  produced? 

As  to  the  first  question,  time  forbids  a  full  answer. 
I  mention  briefly  three  of  our  great  doctrines. 

The  first  fundamental  doctrine  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  is  the  doctrine  of  God.  This  is  very  clearly 
stated  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Egbert  W.  Smith  in  his  admir- 
able book,  "The  Creed  of  the  Presbyterians":  "It  is 
a  system  distinguished  supereminently  by  its  exalta- 
tion of  God.  'A  profound  sense  of  the  exaltation  of 
God,'  says  Rev.  Dr.  George  P.  Fisher,  of  Yale,  'is  the 
keynote  of  Calvinism.'  The  glory  of  the  Lord  God 
Almighty  is  its  unifying,  all-pervading  principle,  the 
blazing  sun  and  centre  of  the  system.  Not  bare  sov- 
ereignty, arbitrary  will,  naked  power,  but  a  personal 
God  of  grace,  the  God  revealed  in  Christ,  is  the  God 
of  Calvinism.  It  adores  Him  as  the  absolute  and 
ever  blessed  Sovereign,   infinitely  worthy   of    love  and 


122  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

obedience,  'Who  doth  uphold,  direct,  dispose,  and  gov- 
ern all  creatures,  actions,  and  things,  from  the  greatest 
even  to  the  least,  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  His 
wisdom,  power,  justice,  goodness,  and  mercy.'  (Con- 
fession of  Faith,  chapter  V.,  section  1.)  The  keynote 
of  the  whole  system  is  struck  in  the  first  question  of 
the  Shorter  Catechism:  'What  is  the  chief  end  of 
man?  Man's  chief  end  is  to  glorify  God  and  to  enjoy 
Him  forever.'  Hallowed  be  Thy  name.  Thy  kingdom 
come,  Thy  will  be  done,  is  the  threefold  petition  which 
expresses  the  heart  of  Calvinism.  As  one  has  said: 
'In  all  places,  in  all  time,  from  eternity  to  eternity, 
Calvinism  sees  God.' 

"From  its  absorbed  and  adoring  view  of  God 
comes  Calvinism's  conscientiousness,  its  deep  and 
dominant  sense  of  duty  and  responsibility.  The  ever 
blessed  is  the  Ever  Present  God,  under  Whose  eye,  in 
Whose  fellowship,  for  Whose  glory,  and  subject  to 
Whose  review  the  whole  of  human  life  is  to  be  lived," 
(Pages  44  to  46.)  What  more  desirable  or  more 
needed  element  could  be  introduced  into  education? 

The  second  great  doctrine  of  Presbyterianism  is  its 
view  of  the  Human  Will.  Calvinists  deny  that  the  will 
is  in  equilibrio,  turned  hither  and  thither  by  outward 
influences,  or  capable  of  self-determination.  They  hold 
and  teach  that  the  decisions  of  the  will  are  the  de- 
cisions of  the  soul.  That  the  condition  of  the  soul 
determines  what  will  be  motives  and  inducements  to 
a  man;  that  if  a  man's  soul  is  depraved  and  wholly 
sinful,  he  will  not  and  cannot  choose  the  holy  and  good. 
Hence  our  Confession  teaches,  "Man  by  his  fall  into  a 
state  of  sin  hath  wholly  lost  all  ability  of  will  to  any 
spiritual  good  accompanying  salvation."  (Chapter  IX., 
paragraph  3.)    On  the  other  hand,  if  the  soul  is  holy, 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  123 

man  will  just  as  surely  choose  the  pure  and  good.  This 
view  of  the  will  puts  the  emphasis  upon  what  a  man  is, 
upon  the  condition  of  his  dispositions,  upon  his  char- 
acter. Such  a  philosophy  of  the  will  is  the  foundation 
of  sound  ethics,  because  it  points  out  that  the  fountain 
of  conduct  is  the  soul  itself,  and  that  if  we  would  make 
the  fruit  good  we  must  first  make  the  tree  good.  It 
robs  man  of  all  self-sufficiency  and  makes  him  entirely 
dependent  upon  Divine  grace.  It  emphasizes  the  ne- 
cessity of  regeneration,  of  a  truly  informed  conscience, 
and  purity  of  heart.  What  more  important  than  to 
teach  our  youth  that  character  determines  destiny,  and 
that  for  godly  character  man  is  dependent  upon  God. 
The  third  great  doctrine  of  Preshyterianism  is  what  I 
venture  to  call  Individualism.  Prelacy  makes  church 
power  to  reside  in  the  bishop,  Presbyterianism  in  the 
people.  This  is  the  fundamental  doctrine  of  our  form 
of  church  government.  Every  individual  is  a  member 
of  the  body  to  which  power  belongs,  every  one  shares 
responsibility,  and  every  one  must  think  and  act  for 
himself.  "This,"  says  Dr.  W.  W.  Moore,  "is  just  the 
first  principle  of  Presbyterianism  as  a  form  of  govern- 
ment— 'the  rights  of  the  people,'  and  here  we  find  the 
real  potency  of  Presbyterianism  as  an  educator  of  men 
and  a  maker  of  citizens.  It  teaches  that  all  men  are 
the  sons  of  the  Lord  Almighty,  that  all  are  equal  and 
all  are  kings,  that  every  soul  is  of  infinite  value  and 
dignity,  and  that  each  individual  mind  may  be  in 
direct  communication  with  its  Creator.  With  such  a 
conception  of  man  there  can  be  no  despotism  in  Church 
or  State,  no  prelate  or  king  can  be  lord  over  another 
man's  conscience."  Out  of  this  doctrine  proceeds 
logically  the  right  of  private  judgment  and  the  demand 
for  civil  and  religious  liberty.     Hence  it  is  adapted  to 


124  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

develop  the  highest  type  of  manhood — intelligent,  con- 
scientious, pure,  self-reliant,  courageous. 

Here,  now,  are  three  of  the  great  doctrines  of  Pres- 
byterianism :  the  doctrine  of  God;  the  doctrine  of  the 
Human  Will;  and  the  doctrine  of  Individualism. 

We  next  take  up  the  question.  What  type  of  char- 
acter have  these  doctrines  produced  in  the  past?  For 
the  answer  to  this  question  our  appeal  is  to  History. 

"The  Calvinists,"  says  Froude,  "abhorred,  as  no 
other  body  of  men  ever  more  abhorred,  all  conscious 
mendacity,  all  impurity,  all  moral  wrong  of  every 
kind,  so  far  as  they  could  recognize  it.  Whatever 
exists  at  this  moment  in  England  and  Scotland  of 
conscientious  fear  of  doing  evil  is  the  remnant  of  the 
convictions  which  were  branded  by  the  Calvinists  into 
the  people's  hearts." 

"As  illustrating  the  type  of  character  produced  by 
Calvinism,  Froude  mentions  William  the  Silent,  Luther, 
Knox,  Andrew  Melville,  the  Regent  Murray,  Coligny, 
Cromwell,  Milton,  Bunyan.  'These  men,'  he  says,  'pos- 
sessed all  the  qualities  which  give  nobility  and  grandeur 
to  human  nature — men  whose  life  was  as  uplifting  as 
their  intellect  was  commanding,  and  their  public  aims 
untainted  with  selfishness;  unalterably  just  where  duty 
required  them  to  be  stern,  but  with  the  tenderness  of 
a  woman  in  their  hearts;  frank,  true,  cheerful,  humor- 
ous, as  unlike  sour  fanatics  as  it  is  possible  to  imagine 
any  one,  and  able  in  some  way  to  sound  the  keynote 
to  which  every  brave  and  faithful  heart  in  Europe  in- 
stinctively vibrated.'"  (Smith,  Creed  of  Presbyterians, 
pages  59,  60.) 

Rufus  Choate  is  quoted  by  Dr.  Moore  as  saying,  "I 
ascribe  to  Geneva  an  influence  that  has  changed  the 
history  of  the  world.     I  trace  to  it  the  opening  of  an- 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  125 

Other  era  of  liberty,  the  republican  constitution  framed 
in  the  cabin  of  the  'Mayflower,'  the  divinity  of  Jona- 
than Edwards,  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  the  in- 
dependence of  America." 

Continuing,  Dr.  Moore  adds:  "When  we  remember 
that  nearly  all  the  officers  in  command  at  King's 
Mountain,  the  most  successful  battle,  save  one,  that 
was  ever  fought  by  Americans,  were  Presbyterian 
elders  and  that  their  troops  were  mustered  from  Pres- 
byterian settlements;  when  we  remember  that  Gen- 
eral Morgan  and  General  Pickens,  who  turned  the  tide 
of  the  whole  war  at  the  Cowpens,  were  Presbyterian 
elders;  when  we  remember  that  after  his  surrender 
at  Saratoga,  Burgoyne  said  to  Morgan  concerning 
his  Scotch-Irish  riflemen,  'Sir,  you  have  the  finest  regi- 
ment in  the  world';  when  we  remember  that  Generals 
Moultrie,  SuUivan,  Sumter,  Starke,  Knox,  Rutledge, 
Wayne,  and  scores  of  other  officers,  as  well  as  thou- 
sands of  the  rank  and  file,  were  of  the  same  sturdy 
stock,  it  is  hardly  too  much  to  say  with  Rev.  Dr. 
Archibald  A.  Hodge,  that  the  Shorter  Catechism  fought 
through  successfully  the  Revolutionary  War."  (Edu- 
cational Value   Presbyterianism,   page    15.) 

These  testimonies  from  historians  all  over  the  world 
might  be  indefinitely  multiplied.  Enough  has  been  said 
to  establish  my  point — that  Presbyterianism  is  adapted 
to  produce  the  highest  type  of  character  and  life. 

I  wish  now  to  conclude  by  showing  that  the  great 
need  of  the  present  hour  is  to  introduce  into  edu- 
cation precisely  that  influence  which  Presbyterianism 
must  supply.     Let  me  specify: — 

The  -first  need  of  the  hour  in  education  is  a  sound 
philosophy.  The  present  tendency  in  philosophy  is 
to  materialism  or  sensualism.     The  consequences  must 


126  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

inevitably  be  a  false  system  of  ethics,  a  false  theology, 
or  infidelity.  The  remedy  is  the  Calvinistic  philosophy 
based  upon  the  Bible,  rather  than  a  philosophy  founded 
upon  the  physiological  laboratory;  a  philosophy  which 
teaches  the  spirituality  of  the  soul  and  the  true  view 
of  the  will. 

The  second  need  of  the  hour  in  education  is  a  true 
teaching  concerning  God.  What  the  youth  of  our 
land  ought  to  be  taught  is  just  that  truth  concerning 
God  which  Calvinism  emphasizes.  Stop  for  a  mo- 
ment and  think  what  must  be  the  result  of  leaving  out 
the  true  view  of  God  in  education.  What  would  be- 
come of  that  foundation  stone  of  the  Christian  com- 
monwealth, the  sanctity  of  an  oath?  What  would  be- 
come of  the  reverence  for  things  sacred  and  divine? 
What  of  faith  and  hope?  What  of  the  fear  of  doing 
evil?  Do  you  say  this  is  the  Church's  business?  In 
a  measure,  yes.  But  you  cannot  deny  that  the  school 
which  has  the  child  for  five  days  in  the  week,  for  five 
or  six  of  the  morning  hours,  and  for  a  period  of  from 
ten  to  fifteen  years  of  the  most  impressible  part  of  life, 
cannot  escape  this  responsibility.  Whatever  your 
theory  as  to  the  office  of  the  Church,  the  influence  of 
the  school  is  a  fact. 

The  third  need  in  education  is  the  inculcation  of  a 
true  teaching  concerning  the  majesty  of  law.  The 
tendency  of  our  day  is  to  lawlessness — to  evasion  of  the 
law  by  some,  to  disregard  of  the  law  by  others,  to  dis- 
respect for  the  law  by  many,  to  violation  of  the  law 
by  others.  How  is  this  dangerous  tendency  to  be 
checked?  By  teaching  the  young,  first  of  all,  the  maj- 
esty AND  GLORY  OF  GoD,  the  Giver  of  the  great  moral 
law.  It  is  a  most  significant  fact  that  before  God  gave 
the  moral  law  on  Sinai,  He  gave  the  most  remarkable 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  127 

display  of  His  majesty,  power,  and  glory  found  in  the 
entire  Bible.  If  this  great  truth  could  be  impressed 
upon  our  young  and  then  His  moral  law  taught  them, 
this  would  lay  the  foundation  for  the  highest  respect 
for  all  law.  This  is  the  very  thing  which  Presby- 
terianism  does.  Not  only  has  it  thus  exalted  God 
and  honored  His  law,  but  it  has  also  stood  for  law  and 
order  as  promulgated  from  the  State,  for  individtial 
responsibility,  and,  so,  accountability  under  law. 

The  fourth  need  in  education  is  strong,  moral  char- 
acter, character  founded  on  truth,  character  grounded 
on  convictions.  The  crying  need  of  to-day  in  our 
legislative  halls.  State  and  National,  is  men  of  true  and 
firm  convictions,  of  indomitable  courage,  incorruptible, 
unpurchasable.  The  same  is  true  of  the  business  world 
and  of  the  social  world.  There  is  also  need  of  the 
same  type  of  women  for  the  home.  To  attain  these 
results  the  school  must  develop  and  train  the  moral 
nature,  cultivate  and  inform  the  conscience.  But 
have  we  not  seen  that  the  very  kind  of  character  we 
need,  Presbyterianism  is  adapted  to  produce,  aye, 
has  produced? 

The  -fifth  great  need  of  education  is  the  inculcation 
of  a  high  and  holy  purpose  in  life.  This  purpose  is 
not  to  live  for  self,  or  for  money,  or  for  fame.  How 
many  low  and  unworthy  ends  men  are  living  for,  all 
more  or  less  degrading,  dangerous,  and  unsatisfying! 
But  the  great  end  which  Presbyterianism  teaches  is 
this:  "Man's  chief  end  is  to  glorify  God  and  to  enjoy 
Him  forever."  How  important  for  this  ideal  of  life 
to  be  kept  constantly  before  the  developing  and 
aspiring  soul! 

In  view  of  all  I  have  said,  has  not  the  Presbyterian 
Church  a  call,  loud,   strong,  imperative,  to  enter  the 


128  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

field  of  education?  A  call  which  comes  from  our 
glorious  past;  a  call  shrill  and  reproving  from  our 
present  recreancy;  a  call  from  the  great  crisis  of  to- 
day; a  call  from  our  Lord  to  extend  His  kingdom; 
a  call  enforced  by  our  great  doctrines;  a  call  from 
the  imperative  needs  of  the  great  cause  of  Education? 
What  shall  be  our  response?  What  shall  be  the 
response  of  this  historic  church  which  celebrates  its 
centennial  on  this  occasion?  What  a  grand  celebra- 
tion of  your  centennial  would  it  be  for  this  church,  in 
which  our  General  Assembly  was  bom,  to  lead  in  a 
great  forward  movement  in  the   cause  of   Education  ! 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  129 

ginctDentjS  of  ti^e  Centennial  of  t^e 


By  Mrs.  Theodore  D.  Caswell, 


THE  old  church  had  certainly  put  on  its  hoUday 
attire  to  celebrate  its  birthday,  and  presented 
a  scene  of  rare  beauty,  with  its  garlands  of 
Southern  smilax  streaming  from  the  convex  ceiling 
in  every  direction;  illuminated  with  hundreds  of  in- 
candescent electric  lights.  The  great  organ  was  a 
mass  of  delicate  green  vines,  and  with  its  wealth  and 
glory  of  beautiful  white  blossoms,  was  wonderfully 
effective.  The  higher  curves  of  the  organ  were  deco- 
rated with  tall  palms  and  potted  flowers  in  bloom; 
the  altar  was  seemingly  a  mass  of  Easter  lilies. 

With  this  beautiful  environment  the  closing  services 
of  the  centennial  were  held  on  the  evening  of  the  17th 
of  May,  1904.  It  was  a  very  large  interdenominational 
gathering,  and  representatives  of  the  other  churches 
brought   greetings   of  love  to  the  century-old  church. 

Dr.    Plunket   read   the    following  resolution,    passed 

at  the   recent   session   of  the   Augusta   Presbytery,  at 

Madison,  Ga.: —       ,,,,  ^        a     -i  o<  ^    ^/^r^^ 

Madison,  Ga.,  April  21st,  1904. 

"Whereas,  The  Presbytery  of  Augusta  learns  with 
profound  pleasure  that  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
Augusta,  Ga.,  in  which  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  was  organ- 
ized in  December,  1861,  will  celebrate  its  centenary 
in  May,  1904;  therefore. 


130  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

''Resolved,  That  by  a  rising  vote  Presbytery  ex- 
presses its  deep  sense  of  obligation  to  this  historic 
church  for  sympathy  and  help  extended  so  generously 
through  its  beloved  pastor  whenever  and  wherever 
throughout  our  bounds  the  cry  of  need  has  been  raised. 

"Resolved,  That  Presbytery  extends  its  tenderest 
love  to  the  pastor  and  people  of  this  noble  church 
upon  this  auspicious  occasion,  and  prays  upon  them 
God's  tenderest  and  constant  blessing. 

,.-,     „     T^  "H.  W.  BURWELL, 

M.  E.  Peabody,  .,,,   ,     , 

I  ^,    ,  ..  "Moderator. 

"Stated  Clerk. 

The  following  greetings  were  borne  to  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church,  the  pastor  briefly  replying  to  each, 
and  closing  with  a  general  reply: — 

Rev.  H.  W.  Burwell,  in  behalf  of  the  Greene  Street 
Presbyterian  Church,  extended  greetings  and  congratu- 
lations, wishing  the  mother  church  a  Godspeed  through 
a  second  century.  They  pressed  upon  their  venerable 
mother's  brow  the  kiss  of  love,  the  salutation  of  deepest 
veneration. 

Rabbi  M.  Cahan,  in  behalf  of  the  congregation  of  the 
Children  of  Israel,  brought  profuse  greetings  and  con- 
gratulations. They  recognized  it  as  an  important 
occasion  in  the  hearts  of  the  Presbyterian  congregation, 
and  as  a  church  and  people  they  joined  with  them  in 
rejoicing.  They  held  for  their  neighbors  the  kindliest 
of  feelings.  Your  church  is  the  veritable  house  of 
God,  and  may  He  continue  to  shower  upon  you  His 
choicest  blessings,  that  your  pastor  and  people  may 
go  from  strength  to  strength  in  His  blessed  service. 

Mr.  William  Crane,  representing  the  congregation 
of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church,  read  a  letter  from  the 
rector.  Rev.  C.  C.  Williams,  D,  D.,  who  was  unable  to 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  131 

be  present.  He  declared  that  the  two  churches,  St. 
Paul's  and  the  First  Presbyterian,  were  like  one  large 
family.  "  We  hold  manifold  interests  in  common.  Our 
dead  lie  side  by  side  in  the  old  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  so 
in  peace  may  our  sons  and  daughters  live  through  life." 

Judge  E.  H.  Callaway  represented  the  First  Baptist 
Church  in  the  absence  of  Rev.  Sparks  W.  Melton. 
Judge  Callaway  read  a  set  of  resolutions  expressive  of 
cordial  fraternity  from  the  Baptist  brethren.  He  then 
briefly  referred  to  the  fact  that  early  in  this  century 
there  were  close  relations  between  those  who  estab- 
lished the  First  Presbyterian  Church  and  the  Greene 
Street  Baptist  Church,  it  being  told  in  the  biography 
of  Dr.  Brantley,  the  first  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church, 
that  at  one  time  he  and  the  Presbyterian  congrega- 
tion worshiped  alternately  in  a  building  occupied  in 
common  by  all  denominations.  Judge  Callaway  closed 
by  wishing  Godspeed  to   their  sister  church. 

Rev.  M.  O.  J.  Kreps,  pastor  of  the  Holy  Trinity 
Lutheran  Church,  declared  that  there  was  a  warm  spot 
in  his  heart,  he  having  married  a  Presbyterian  woman. 
He  and  his  congregation  wished  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian Church  a  continuance  of  all  blessings.  They  joined 
hands  and  hearts  with  them  in  all  good  works. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Eakes,  pastor  of  the  St.  John's  Methodist 
Church,  brought  greetings  in  behalf  of  his  own  con- 
gregation and  the  three  thousand  Methodists  of  the 
city  of  Augusta.  He  brought  the  heartiest  sympa- 
thies and  sincere  congratulations,  on  a  service  of  one 
hundred  years  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  Dr.  Eakes 
spoke  tenderly  and  touchingly  of  the  many  memories 
clinging  to  the  old  church.  "May  God  bless  you  abund- 
antly and  may  you  continue  to  bless  this  city  and 
bring  souls  into  the  kingdom  of  God." 


132  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

Rev.  C.  E.Weltner,  pastor  of  St.  Matthew's  Lutheran 
Church,  in  behalf  of  his  congregation  and  himself, 
brought  fraternal  greetings  and  centennial  congratula- 
tions. "Augusta  is  a  garrison.  In  it  are  serving,  under 
one  great  flag  and  one  great  Commander  the  light  in- 
fantry, the  heavy  artillery,  the  swift  cavalry,  the  nimble 
marines,  and  the  engineers.  One  company  has  met  to 
celebrate  one  hundred  years  of  service,  and  we  have  all 
gathered  to  rejoice  with  them  and  to  speed  them  forward 
in  good  service.   May  God  bless  you  for  another  century. " 

Rev.  Howard  T.  Cree,  pastor  of  the  First  Christian 
Church,  brought  greetings  in  behalf  of  his  congrega- 
tion. Representing  one  of  the  youngest  of  the  churches 
of  the  central  part  of  the  city,  yet  their  congratulations 
and  well-wishes  were  none  the  less  sincere.  His  heart 
beat  in  sympathy  with  everything  that  had  been  said. 
He  did  not  know  which  to  congratulate  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  on,  the  wonderful  record  of  a  hundred 
years  of  service,  or  on  the  possession  of  an  ideal  pastor, 
able  to  arrange  and  successfully  conduct  so  interest- 
ing and  helpful  a  series  of  centennial  celebrations. 

Rev.  S.  R.  Belk,  pastor  of  the  St.  James'  Methodist 
Church,  eloquently  voiced  in  behalf  of  his  congregation 
and  himself,  greeting  and  congratulations.  He  de- 
clared that  he  was  happy  to  be  with  them  on  so  event- 
ful an  evening.  It  is  a  great  occasion.  He  could  think 
of  but  one  thing,  the  lines  of  the  familiar  hymn,  "Blest 
be  the  tie  that  binds  our  hearts  in  Christian  love." 
The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Charlotte,  N.  C,  started 
the  movement  that  brought  the  Nation  its  freedom, 
"Your  denomination  has  always  stood  for  the  Sabbath, 
for  Christ,  for  education,  and  for  purity  of  life.  May 
God  bless  and  prosper  the  congregation  and  continue 
its  good  work  through  all  the  ages  to  come." 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  133 

Briefly,  but  eloquently,  Dr.  Plunket,  the  pastor,  ex- 
pressed, in  behalf  of  the  congregation,  their  deep  ap- 
preciation for  the  many  kind  words  spoken — true 
tokens  of  Christian  love.  He  spoke  at  length  on  the 
common  ties  binding  all  Christian  denominations  to- 
gether, all  bowing  in  love  and  obedience  to  one  Lord 
and  one  Savior,  Jesus  Christ.  He  returned  loving 
greetings  and  well-wishes,  praying  peace,  prosperity, 
and  God's  blessings  on  all. 

The  service  closed  with  the  singing  of  the  beautiful 
hymn,  "Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds  our  hearts  in 
Christian  love,"  Rev.  F.  R.  Beattie,  D.  D.,  LL.  D., 
pronouncing  the  final  benediction. 

After  this  fitting  close  of  a  great  occasion,  a  large 
reception,  to  which  seven  hundred  guests  were  bidden, 
was  given  in  the  Telfair  Building. 

The  guests  were  welcomed  in  the  assembly  room,  which 
was  unique  and  fascinating  with  its  original  decoration 
of  a  deep  green  fringe  of  pine  needles  gracefully  fes- 
tooned about  the  walls,  and  caught  up  with  rosettes  of 
pine  needles.  The  entire  building  was  decorated  with 
the  most  exquisite  taste  in  a  profusion  of  beautiful 
flowers  and  brilliant  electric  lights.  About  the  rooms 
were  masses  of  sweet  peas  banked  amidst  feathery  green 
ferns,  making  an  effect  beautiful  beyond  description. 

The  picturesque  rooms  opened  on  the  broad  gallery, 
where  many  of  the  guests  were  served  with  supper, 
as  well  as  in  the  great  assembly  room. 

In  the  front  supper  room  the  guests  of  honor  were 
seated  at  a  table  arranged  in  the  shape  of  a  Celtic  cross. 
Here  were  the  Presbyterian  divines  who  were  visiting 
Augusta,  and  those  of  Augusta,  with  the  priests  and 
the  ministers  of  the  various  churches,  and  their  wives, 
members  of  the  Church  Councils,  and  representatives 


134  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

of  the  press.  The  table  was  bewilderingly  beautiful, 
it  was  an  immense  white  cross,  almost  filling  the  large 
room.  A  beautiful  pyramidal  birthday  cake  with  its 
one  hundred  tiny  red  candles  illuminated  the  centre 
of  the  table.  Great  cut  glass  bowls  of  sweet  pea  blos- 
soms of  purest  white  were  rendered  most  striking  by 
an  occasional  high  vase  of  brilliant  scarlet  flowers, 
making  a  table  of  wonderful  beauty.  The  room  itself 
was  lovely  in  its  mural  decoration  of  empire  wreaths 
and  garlands.  At  each  of  the  forty-eight  seats  for  the 
guests  of  honor  were  placed  cards  with  quotations 
apropos  of  the  church,  or  questions  of  the  day,  which 
were  read  after  Dr.  Plunket's  poem  of  welcome, 
written  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Hayne: — 

"  Unlike  the  transient  earth  and  sky, 
The  Spirit's  hfe  can  never  die; 
And  thus  exempt  from  Doubt's  grim  fears. 
We  celebrate  our  hundred  years. 
Years  that  have  lapsed  in  gain  and  loss, 
Under  the  shadow  of  the  Cross — 
That  shadow  born  of  sin's  dark  night 
Yet  fringed  with  everlasting  light! 

"  Brothers!  a  welcome,  warm  and  true, 
Of  Christian  fellowship  to  you. 
Our  words  of  cheer  we  will  not  shock 
With  echoes  from  old  Plymouth  Rock; 
And  you  will  grant  it  is  no  schism 
To  skip  the  Longer  Catechism, 
And  with  a  Presbyterian  smile 
The  gentle  hours  of  Spring  beguile." 

So  passes  into  history  the  first  centennial  celebration 
of  our  beloved  church,  ever  to  be  remembered  by  this 
and  to  be  recalled  by  coming  generations. 

May  her  growth  in  the  century  upon  which  we  just 
entered  even  surpass  that  to  which  she  has  already 
attained. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  135 


acttbtttejJ  of  tl^e  Cl^urci^  J^urtng 


By  Mrs.  Henry  H.  Malone 


SEVERAL  years  since  a  speaker  at  a  convention  was 
I  heard  to  describe  a  Sabbath  school  as  "the  church 
at  study."  This  definition  seems  especially  appro- 
priate as  applying  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Sabbath 
School,  which  enjoys  the  distinction  of  having  from 
earliest  times  encouraged  and  emphasized  the  memor- 
izing of  Scripture.  The  chance  visitor  on  Sunday  after- 
noon looks  down  from  the  gallery  or  elsewhere  upon  a 
busy  scene.  Row  upon  row  of  happy,  intent  faces, 
ready  responses,  perfect  order,  while  above  and  beyond 
all  is  the  unmistakable  atmosphere  of  earnest  work  for 
the  Master. 

When  Dr.  Plunket  addressed  the  school  for  the  first 
time  in  January,  1890,  he  found  it  in  fine  condition 
under  the  able  superintendency  of  Mr.  John  W.  Wallace. 
A  large  and  representative  Bible  class,  as  also  the  sing- 
ing, was  led  by  the  superintendent,  and  attracted  visit- 
ors in  large  numbers.  In  January,  1896,  the  school 
was  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  its  beloved  superin- 
tendent, Mr.  Wallace,  who  died  in  the  full  vigor  of  his 
leadership,  having  completed  his  twenty-fifth  year  of 
service.     Sadly  impressive   were   the   exercises   at   the 


136  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

unveiling  of  the  memorial  fresco  in  the  Sunday-school 
auditorium.  The  gallery  was  thronged  and  the  main 
floor  crowded  on  Sunday  afternoon,  April  15th,  1900, 
by  those  who  gathered  to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of 
Mr.  Wallace.  Addresses  in  reminiscent  strain  recalled 
the  man  of  winning  personality,  the  finished  Bible 
student,  the  fluent  platform  speaker,  and  pleasing 
musician.  This  remarkable  combination  of  gifts  went 
to  make  one  of  the  most  successful  and  widely  known 
Sabbath-school  workers  of  the  day.  On  January  20th, 
1901,  the  school  formulated  resolutions  of  appreciation 
and  esteem  upon  the  resignation  of  Mr.  B.  F.  Brown, 
whose  faithfulness  to  duty  while  superintendent  for 
five  years  had  endeared  him  to  all. 

The  past  two  years  has  been  a  period  of  remarkable 
activity  and  consequent  development.  Many  improve- 
ments have  been  introduced,  notably  the  adoption  of 
Honor  Roll  and  Medal  Systems,  the  Normal  Class,  the 
Home  Department,  the  Cradle  Roll,  and  the  Sunday- 
school  Constitution.  An  old  activity  revived  is  the 
reopening  of  the  Intermediate  Department,  which  had 
been  closed  for  twelve  years. 

The  latest  improvement  just  completed  is  the  en- 
largement and  renovation  of  the  collection  of  books 
comprising  the  Sabbath-school  library.  The  school  is 
divided  into  five  distinct  grades  or  departments,  pro- 
motion from  one  to  another  being  determined  by  age 
and  proficiency  in  certain  requirements  supplementary 
to  the  weekly  lessons.  The  income  of  the  school  from 
weekly  collections  is  larger  than  ever  before,  the  entire 
receipts  being  devoted  to  benevolence. 

The  most  important  occasion  during  the  year  is  the 
first  Sunday  in  January,  at  which  time  diplomas,  medals, 
prizes  (for  memorizing  Scripture)  and  Honor  Roll  dis- 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  137 

tinctions  are  awarded  and  announced.  The  First  Pres- 
byterian Sunday  School  is  to-day  thoroughly  abreast 
of  the  times,  being  equipped  with  all  modem  methods 
and  appointments.  This  significant  fact  is  the  fruit 
of  the  labors  of  Mr.  George  P.  Butler,  the  present 
superintendent,  who  with  unflagging  energy  and  in- 
finite tact  has  planned  and  executed,  early  and  late, 
to  this  end.  Young  in  years,  but  mature  in  accom- 
plished leadership,  he  enjoys  the  enthusiastic  co-opera- 
tion of  the  officers  and  teachers,  among  whom  there 
exists  the  highest  conception  of  duty. 


An  earnest  band  of  youthful  Christians  is  the  Young 
People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor,  owing  its  exist- 
ence to  the  present  pastor,  whom  they  gladly  number 
among  their  members  and  include  in  their  councils. 

On  Sunday  evening  October  19th,  1890,  a  special 
service  was  announced  to  take  place,  at  which  time 
organization  was  effected.  The  object  of  this  society 
is  "the  promotion  of  spirituality  and  usefulness  in  the 
service  of  God."  The  missionary  phase  of  the  work 
is  especially  prominent.  In  May,  1892,  a  Sabbath 
school  was  organized  in  the  southern  limits  of  the  city, 
and  when  this  was  discontinued  the  missionary  activity 
was  transferred  to  the  Richmond  County  Reformatory, 
where  a  Sabbath  school  had  been  founded  in  1891  by 
Mr.  Anderson  W.  Carmichael.  Previous  to  this  time 
no  religious  services  had  been  held  at  this  place  and 
Christmas  festivities  were  unknown. 

When  failing  health  obliged  Mr.  Carmichael  to  re- 
linquish this  work,  it  was  assumed  by  the  Christian 
Endeavor  Society,  which  for  the  past  ten  years  has 
supplied    literature    and    workers    for    this    field.     For 


138  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

most  faithful  services  rendered  in  behalf  of  this  school 
grateful  acknowledgment  is  made  Andrew  J.  Winter. 
Within  the  past  few  years  the  Endeavorers  have  under- 
taken the  entire  management  of  a  subscription  fund 
toward  the  salary  of  a  pastor  for  Sibley  Church.  The 
reopening  of  this  church  after  a  period  of  eight  years 
is  due  to  the  energy  and  zeal  of  these  young  people, 
to  whom  great  credit  is  given  for  having  solved  this 
financial  problem  of  long  standing.  In  March,  1902, 
there  sprung  into  life  the  youngest  organization  of 
all  this  goodly  number — the  Junior  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E. 
Under  the  direction  of  Miss  Marie  Brahe,  as  superin- 
tendent, this  sturdy  offshoot  accepts  only  a  moral 
support  from  the  parent  organization.  Financially 
independent,  the  Juniors,  moreover,  invest  all  surplus 
funds  in  missionary  stock. 


In  the  early  days  of  the  present  pastorate  (1890) 
Mrs.  D.  L.  Fullerton  and  Mrs.  W.  J.  Cranston,  of  the 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  (for  an  account  of  this 
venerable  circle  see  elsewhere),  organized  a  band  of 
young  girls  who  should  thus  early  become  impreg- 
nated with  a  knowledge  of  and  love  for  missions. 
These  "Mission  Workers"  undertook  the  education  of 
a  Japanese  girl.  This  work  was  completed  after  seven 
years  with  gratifying  results.  The  present  finds  them 
with  enlarged  usefulness,  defraying  the  tuition  of  two 
native  girls  at  Nagoya,  Japan.  At  the  annual  rally 
in  October  the  pastor  invariably  participates  in  the 
exercises.  For  extraordinary  service  rendered  this 
society  of  "  Mission  Workers  "  while  president  for 
thirteen  consecutive  years,  the  name  of  Miss  Mary  C. 
North  stands  pre-eminent.      Inexpressibly   sad   is   the 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  139 

recent  bereavement  of  this  circle  by  the  death  of  the 
president,  Miss  Eugenia  Walton,  of  whom  it  may  well 
be  said,  none  knew  her  but  to  love  her. 


On  April  9th,  1894,  responsive  to  the  call  of  the  pas- 
tor, there  assembled  in  the  Telfair  Building  a  company 
unique  in  its  personnel  and  intention.  This  was  the 
organization  of  the  famous  Men's  Welcome  Service 
Association,  which  for  eight  years  did  efficient  service 
and,  when  disbanded,  left  a  vacancy  which  has  never 
been  filled.  The  object  of  this  association  was  "to 
increase  the  interest  and  effectiveness  of  the  Sabbath 
evening  service  and  attendance  thereupon."  Large 
congregations  repaid  the  combined  effort  of  choir  and 
association  to  co-operate  with  the  pastor  in  his  aims, 
not  the  least  of  which  was  to  strengthen  the  ties  of 
church  fellowship  and  promote  spirituality  among  the 
members.  During  its  existence  the  pastor  was  thor- 
oughly identified  with  and  the  unfailing  inspiration 
of  the  Men's  Welcome  Service  Association, 


The  Riverside  Mission  Sabbath  School  was  founded 
by  Miss  Hannah  Longstreet  in  the  early  seventies, 
and  the  comfortable  little  chapel  fronting  the  river 
was  given  by  Mr.  Josiah  Sibley  as  a  home  for  the  mis- 
sion as  long  as  it  should  be  conducted  at  this  point. 
Since  this  time  regular  weekly  sessions  of  the  Sabbath 
school  have  been  held,  picnics  and  Christmas  feasts 
have  celebrated  the  passing  seasons,  and  in  1890  we 
find  this  little  school  under  the  watchful  care  of  Mr. 
Henry  A.  Flisch,  whose  prolonged  and  faithful  service, 
when  superintendent  for  twelve  years,  deserves  special 


140  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

mention.  Since  1890  the  cost  of  literature,  in  addi- 
tion to  other  current  expenses,  has  been  assumed  by- 
Session.  At  one  time  the  need  of  a  piano  becoming 
urgent,  the  school  raised  a  large  sum  by  entertain- 
ments toward  the  purchase  of  a  much-needed  instru- 
ment. The  present  superintendent  is  Mr.  Charles  E. 
Whitney,  who,  with  his  assistants,  deserves  the  utmost 
encouragement  in  their  earnest  work. 


The  Winter  of  1885-6  was  unusually  severe.  There 
was  much  suffering  among  the  poor,  and  relief  parties 
distributed  quantities  of  fuel,  clothing,  and  provisions 
wherever  needed.  The  necessity  for  concerted  action 
and  organized  effort  in  such  emergencies  became  ap- 
parent, and  accordingly  the  Pastor's  Aid  Society  was 
formally  organized  January,  1886,  by  Dr.  William 
Adams,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  church.  The  object 
of  this  society,  as  stated  in  the  first  annual  report,  is 
to  co-operate  with  and  assist  the  pastor  in  his  labors 
(notably  of  visitation  and  the  distribution  of  benefi- 
cence). When  Dr.  Plunket  assumed  charge  in  1890, 
Mrs.  Julia  E.  Scales  was  president  of  this  society.  A 
testimonial  of  appreciation  is  herewith  recorded  to  the 
memory  of  this  faithful  handmaiden,  whose  seven 
years  of  official  service  was  terminated  only  by  de- 
clining health.  The  Pastor's  Aid  Society  was  reorgan- 
ized by  Dr.  Plunket  a  few  years  since,  and  the  inter- 
est acquired  at  this  time  and  happily  retained  has 
doubled  its  usefulness,  recalling  the  early  days  of  its 
existence.  In  addition  to  numerous  duties  they  have 
undertaken  within  the  last  year  the  collection  of  the 
subscription  fund  for  Ministerial  Relief.  Under  the 
auspices   of  this  society  there   was   organized  in  Feb- 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  141 

ruary,  1900,  a  sewing  and  singing  school,  which  as- 
sembled in  the  Telfair  Building.  The  following  Winter 
these  enterprising  workers  located  a  similar  school  at 
Sibley  Church.  Both  of  the  above  did  well  and  en- 
joyed a  most  flattering  attendance.  The  Pastor's  Aid 
Society,  under  the  president,  Mrs.  James  W.  Moore, 
is  the  pastor's  faithful  co-laborer,  and  he  their  wise 
counsellor,  inspiring  the  best  effort  of  officers  and 
members. 


On  a  bright  March  afternoon  in  1896,  an  attentive 
audience,  composed  for  the  most  part  of  boys,  sat  in 
the  lecture  room  of  the  Telfair  Building.  When 
the  shadows  lengthened  and  the  meeting  dispersed, 
the  Boys'  Mission  Band  had  begun  its  career  of  use- 
fulness. After  the  first  year  spent  in  study,  the  band 
grew  to  such  vigorous  strength  that  it  was  seen  a 
definite  object  was  needed  for  which  to  work.  This 
was  found  in  the  person  of  a  little  Chinese  girl,  only 
four  years  old,  whom  the  boys  purchased  to  educate 
for  Christian  womanhood.  A  few  short  years  and 
little  "Augusta"  passed  away,  leaving  the  memory 
of  happy,  wholesome  childhood  spent  among  Christian 
friends.  Since  this  untoward  event  the  band  has 
assumed  the  maintenance  of  "  a  memorial  cot  "  in  the 
Elizabeth  Blake  Hospital  at  Soochow.  In  the  shaded 
hospital  ward  the  pictured  face  of  little  "Augusta" 
smiles  a  benediction  upon  the  sufferer  in  a  white  cot 
near  by.  The  organizers  and  original  superinten- 
dents of  the  Boys'  Mission  Band  were  Miss  Mamie  Har- 
ris, now  Mrs.  John  T.  Shewmake,  and  Mrs.  Harold 
Lamb,  whose  earnest,  faithful  services  for  a  number 
of  years  were  terminated  by  change  of  residence.     The 


142  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

present  active  officers  are  Misses  Kathleen  Lowe  and 
Ellen  I.  Ford. 


Venerable  with  age  and  crowned  with  usefulness, 
the  Ladies'  Sewing  Society  held  its  place  among  the 
activities  of  the  church  until  1902.  This  historic 
society  dates  from  ante  helium  times,  and  with  the 
exception  of  that  period  when  the  hands  and  hearts 
of  its  members  became  engrossed  by  the  demands  of 
hospital  service,  has  held  regular  sessions  almost  to 
the  present  day.  The  keynote  of  the  revival  after 
peace  was  restored,  seems  to  have  been  social  unity, 
or,  in  other  words,  a  tightening  of  the  ties  of  church 
fellowship,  too  sadly  loosened  by  the  vicissitudes  of 
warfare.  The  Ladies'  Sewing  Society  very  shortly  be- 
came a  potent  factor  in  the  life  of  the  church,  and  as 
the  years  multiplied,  large  sums  passed  in  and  out  of 
the  treasury.  Various  candidates  for  the  ministry  were 
educated  in  rapid  succession  and  missionary  enter- 
prises assisted.  At  the  close  of  this  period  of  minis- 
terial education  the  society  directed  its  efforts  to 
domestic  needs,  for  among  other  achievements  the 
substantial  appointments  of  the  ladies'  parlor  in  the 
Sunday-school  building  memorialize  the  energy  and 
enterprise  of  its  members.  When  the  newly-elected 
pastor  arrived  in  the  city,  Mrs.  John  K.  Jackson  was 
the  president,  whose  labors  during  a  period  of  inces- 
sant activity  merit  special  comment  and  affectionate 
consideration.  Finding  a  new  church  organ  a  remote 
possibility  of  the  future,  Dr.  Plunket  exerted  him- 
self with  characteristic  energy  and  "eloquence," — so 
say  the  records, — in  behalf  of  this  project.  He  asso- 
ciated with  himself  a  number  of  prominent  gentlemen 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  143 

no  less  enthusiastic,  and  together  they  pushed  the 
matter  to  a  final  issue.  In  the  Autumn  of  1893  the 
stately  proportions  of  a  superb  organ,  erected  at  a 
cost  of  seven  thousand  dollars,  gladdened  the  eyes  of 
the  congregation  when  assembled  for  morning  wor- 
ship. It  was  therefore  after  six  years  of  unremit- 
ting toil  that  this  enterprise  was  completed.  Other 
needs  claimed  attention ;  a  handsome  velvet  church 
carpet  and  later,  one  for  the  Sunday-school  building, 
were  purchased  through  the  unaided  efforts  of  the 
members.  May  future  generations,  recognizing  a  debt 
of  gratitude,  pause  to  pay  loving  tribute  to  the  mem- 
ory of  the  Ladies'  Sewing  Society. 


The  Home  Missionary  Society  was  organized  June 
nth,  1894,  by  Dr.  J.  T.  Plunket,  who  was  profoundly 
impressed  by  the  spiritual  destitution  of  Georgia. 
The  object  of  this  activity  is  to  arouse  and  sustain 
interest  and  zeal  in  Home  Missions  and  to  secure  sys- 
tematic contributions  to  the  same.  The  income  of 
the  society  is  devoted  strictly  to  the  prosecution  of 
mission  work  within  the  State,  a  handsome  yearly 
assessment  being  raised  for  this  purpose.  The  pastor 
is  a  frequent  attendant  at  the  meetings,  bringing  re- 
ports of  the  outlook  from  Presbytery  and  Synod. 

A  course  of  reading  on  local  missions  included  an 
edifying  publication  entitled  "At  Our  Own  Door," 
by  Rev.  S.  L.  Morris,  D.  D.  Until  recently  this  was  the 
only  society  in  the  church  interested  in  the  study  of 
Church  history  and  doctrine.  While  owning  two 
large  and  well-appointed  traveling  libraries,  they 
also  distribute  large  quantities  of  literature,  cover- 
ing  a   wide   range   of   subjects.     On    November   2Sth, 


144  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

1896,  a  large  and  thoroughly  successful  church  recep- 
tion was  tendered  Rev.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Plunket,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Home  Society.  The  difficult  and 
delicate  task  of  arousing  and  sustaining  interest  in 
the  cause  of  Home  Missions,  which  had  been  over- 
looked in  the  pressure  of  other  activities,  has  fallen 
upon  a  faithful  few,  who  have  ably  co-operated  with 
the  president,  Mrs.  Moses  Wadley,  in  her  unceasing 
labors  of  the  past  nine  years.  The  success  of  this 
well-directed  effort  is  shown  by  the  steady  increase  of 
interest  and  income  to  the  Home  Missionary  Society. 


The  handsome  little  property  in  Summerville  known 
as  the  Reid  Memorial  Church  was  erected  with  funds 
left  by  Mr.  Robert  Reid  at  his  death  in  1867.  Sub- 
sequently the  trustees  of  this  property  placed  the 
arrangements  for  and  details  of  worship  under  the 
supervision  of  the  Session  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church.  Accordingly,  in  1892,  the  Session  instituted 
a  weekly  prayer-meeting  service.  This  has  continued 
during  the  Winter  months  for  the  past  twelve  years, 
and  is  conducted  by  Dr.  Plunket.  The  Reid  Memo- 
rial Sabbath  School  dates  from  the  erection  of  the 
church  edifice.  Its  personnel  has  changed  but  little 
in  many  years.  Thrice  faithful  have  been  its  support- 
ers through  Summer's  heat  and  Winter's  cold.  For 
extraordinary  service  rendered  this  school,  honorable 
mention  is  due  Mrs.  Anne  M.  Cuthbert.  As  Dorcas 
"was  full  of  good  works"  which  did  testify,  so  the 
ivy-clad  walls,  could  they  speak,  would  bear  willing 
testimony  to  this  consecrated  handmaiden  whose 
energy  takes  no  thought  of  the  passing  years. 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  145 

A  glance  at  the  foregoing  sketch,  extending  over  a 
period  of  fourteen  years,  reveals  the  fact  that  the  organ- 
ized agencies  of  the  church  have  increased  twofold  in 
numbers,  and  likewise  in  usefulness  during  the  present 
pastorate.  We  have  seen  the  labors  of  years  crowned 
with  fruition  and  the  prayers  of  faith  answered  in  obe- 
dience to  the  Divine  command,  "Go  ye  into  all  the 
world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature." 

Passing  in  and  out  among  all  these  busy  activities 
of  Christian  enterprise  is  one,  who  more  than  another 
may  be  termed  the  chief  instrument  of  success  and 
safeguard  of  failure.  His  the  hand  which  guides 
wisely  yet  unobtrusively,  commending  the  workers  and 
recruiting  their  ofttimes  diminished  numbers.  His 
the  busy  brain  ever  planning  more  generously  for  the 
future.  To  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  T.  Plunket, 
in  grateful  acknowledgment,  this  sentiment  of  loving 
appreciation  is  recorded  by  a  loyal  people. 


THE    MANSE, 


By  Editorial  Committee. 


THE  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  ninth  child 
bom  to  his  parents  in  a  family  of  ten.  He  is 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  in  his  ancestry  are 
to  be  found  the  names  of  many  who  were  alike  illustri- 
ous, both  in  the  service  of  the  Church  and  State.  He 
is  a  native  of  Franklin,  Williamson  County,  Tennessee, 
and  while  still  in  his  infancy  his  father,  a  man  of 
affairs,  moved  to  Nashville,  where  he  subsequently  was 
brought  up. 

Under  the  ceaseless  supervision  of  a  devoted  mother 
whose  mental  endowments  were  of  a  very  high  order, 
and  who  was  deeply  religious  by  nature  and  conviction, 
Dr.  Plunket,  when  near  fifteen  years  of  age,  joined  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  Nashville,  Tenn.  Six  years 
later  he  was  made  a  deacon  in  that  church,  which  of- 
fice he  filled  for  the  eight  successive  years  following. 
He  was  given  the  best  educational  advantages  to  be 
had  in  a  community  boasting  of  the  variety  and  char- 
acter of  its  preparatory  schools  and  academies,  and  as 
he  passed  from  boyhood,  his  father,  to  give  him  a 
proper  understanding  of  business  and  the  laws  of  trade, 
placed  him  in  a   large  commission  and  milling  estab- 

(147) 


148  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 

lishment,  and  subsequently  he  became  the  cashier  and 
leading  office  man  of  a  large  wholesale  drug  house. 
After  thus  spending  three  or  four  years  in  commercial 
life,  he  again  resumed  his  studies,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Nashville  in  a  special  course 
in  literature  and  history,  when  he  was  matriculated  in 
the  Southwestern  Presbyterian  University,  Clarksville, 
Tenn.,  and  from  which  he  took  the  degree  of  A.  B., 
in  the  prescribed  course  of  time,  and  soon  afterward 
we  find  him  an  earnest  student  in  the  Theological 
Seminary,  Columbia,  S.  C.  From  this  institution  he 
was  graduated  in  1880. 

Before  finishing  his  theological  course  Dr.  Plunket 
was  married  in  June,  1879,  to  Miss  Sallie  G.  Kennedy, 
of  Clarksville,  Tenn.  This  union  was  blessed  by  an 
issue  of  four  boys  and  one  girl,  all  now  living.  During 
the  Spring  of  1880  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Nashville,  and  soon  afterwards 
became  the  pastor  of  that  wonderful  old  historic  church, 
the  Steel  Creek  Church,  located  near  Charlotte,  N.  C. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Mecklenburg, 
about  one  year  later,  and  continued  to  serve  that  church 
for  two  years  and  a  half,  when  he  was  called  to  the 
Madison  Avenue  Church,  Covington,  Ky.,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1887,  when  he  became  pastor  of  the  Jeffer- 
son Avenue  Church,  Detroit,  Mich.  After  serving  these 
good  people  for  near  three  years  he  accepted  a  call  in 
March,  1890,  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Augusta, 
Ga.,  where  he  still  is,  and  is  doing  a  remarkable  work 
for  the  Master,  looking  to  the  time  when  the  announce- 
ment shall  go  forth,  "Behold,  the  bridegroom  cometh." 
He  is  strong  in  counsel  and  is  recognized  as  a  distinct 
power  in  the  councils  of  the  church,  and  through  a 
quickness  to  grasp  the  scope  and  bearings  of  a  diffi- 


CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE  149 

cult  or  abstruse  proposition  and  a  superabundance  of 
that  rarest  of  all  the  senses,  common  sense,  makes  him 
an  antagonist  in  debate  of  no  mean  quality,  and  as  a 
consequence  he  usually  has  a  strong  following  in  all 
such  gatherings.  He  was  Moderator  of  the  Synod  of 
Georgia  in  1895;  was  a  commissioner  to  the  General 
Assembly  in  1883,  1895,  and  1903,  and  was  commissioner 
to  the  Pan  Presbyterian  Council  which  convened  in 
Glasgow,  Scotland,  in  1896,  and  again  in  1904,  when  it 
met  in  Liverpool,  England.  He  was  chaplain  for  several 
successive  terms  of  the  National  Protective  Association, 
an  organization  which  embraces  in  its  membership 
over  thirty  per  cent,  of  the  traveling  men  of  the  entire 
country,  and  upon  it  he  succeeded  in  leaving  a  lasting 
impression  for  good.  In  1886  the  Central  University 
of  Kentucky  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  D.D.,. 
and  in  1904  the  University  of  Georgia,  through  its 
medical  department,  gave  him  the  honorary  degree 
of  M.  D. 

Dr.  Plunket  is  near  five  feet  eleven  inches  in  height, 
and  weighs  about  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  pounds, 
is  of  an  erect  and  somewhat  slender  figure,  is  active 
and  graceful  and  affable  in  manner,  and  has  a  striking 
walk  indicative  of  great  energy,  clearness  of  purpose, 
and  firmness.  His  hair  is  dark  brown  in  color,  and  he 
has  a  large,  expressive  gray  eye,  which  lights  up  and 
gives  added  interest  to  a  face  already  strong  in  its 
group  of  features  and  expression.  His  mouth  denotes 
language  and  strength,  and  naturally  we  find  him 
possessed  of  an  unusally  rich  vocabulary,  one  rarely 
equaled,  and  from  whose  lips  fall,  while  speaking,  with- 
out the  least  apparent  effort,  one  continual  stream  of 
the  most  polished  and  graceful  sentences,  pregnant  with 
deepest  thought  and  the  evidences  of  extensive  research. 


150  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE] 

He  is  of  a  modest  and  retiring  disposition,  deep  piety, 
and  fervent  love,  and  universally  is  recognized  as  a 
man  of  great  resolution  and  courage  and  of  decided 
convictions.  He  is  broadminded,  though  conserva- 
tive, and  in  no  degree  is  he  bigoted  or  intolerant.  He 
has  the  broadest  charity  for  all,  irrespective  of  social 
conditions,  and  his  sympathies  go  out  freely  to  the 
brother  or  sister  of  high  or  low  estate  who  may  be 
called  to  stand  in  the  shadow  of  some  great  affliction 
or  sorrow,  or  who  in  the  time  of  temptation  has  fallen 
by  the  wayside. 

He  is  easily  approached,  is  cordial,  frank,  and  sin- 
cere in  his  manner,  makes  friends  readily,  and  after- 
wards his  fidelity  to  them  is  never  questioned. 

As  a  preacher  he  easily  is  one  of  the  most  eloquent 
and  gifted  of  pulpit  orators  in  this  country.  He  is 
so  regarded  generally.  A  fellow-minister,  writing  on 
another  occasion,  said  of  him:  "Endowed  by  nature 
with  a  splendid  magnetic  presence,  impressive  and 
graceful  in  delivery,  a  voice  capable  of  expressing 
every  shade  of  thought  and  every  emotion  of  the  hu- 
man heart,  a  vigorous  mind  and  brilliant  imagination; 
and  these  natural  gifts  cultivated  and  enriched  by 
constant  study,  he  is  justly  ranked  among  the  fore- 
most leaders  of  the  Southern  Church." 

He  is  devoted  with  singleness  of  purpose  truly  to 
his  high  calling  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  and  wher- 
ever located  he  has  enjoyed  a  fruitful  ministry,  ac- 
complishing in  every  instance  a  grand  work  in  the 
upbuilding  and  advancement  of  the  Kingdom  of 
Christ. 

As  pastor  for  fourteen  years  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Augusta,  Georgia,  one  of  the  most 
important    churches   in    the    bounds    of   the    Southern 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  151 

Assembly,  he  is  revered  and  greatly  beloved  by  every 
man,  woman,  and  child  composing  his  own  congre- 
gation, and  indeed  it  may  be  truthfully  added,  no 
less  so  by  all  the  people  of  the  city  of  Augusta  entire, 
without  regard  to  creed,  sex,  or  color. 

He  is  now  in  the  full  vigor  of  manhood  and  zenith 
of  his  powers  and  influence,  and  under  the  continued 
blessing  of  God,  whose  servant  he  is,  has  a  future  rich 
with  the  promise  of  abundant  and  efficient  labors  for 
the  Master. 


IJarrattbe  of  ti^e  iLatitejs'  sfforcign 
pamonatv  ^octetp 


By  Mrs.  Oswell  R.  Eve, 


ALMOST  as  old  as  the  century  which  nearly 
J^^  spans  the  modem  missionary  movement  is 
the  Ladies'  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  our 
beloved  church.  In  July,  1828,  the  Missionary  Her- 
ald of  the  Presbyterian  Church  records  a  contribution 
from  the  Ladies'  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Augusta.  Until  1833  an 
annual  acknowledgment  of  contributions  from  the 
same  source  was  made  by  that  paper.  Mrs.  Ben- 
jamin Sims  was  the  first  president,  and  Mrs.  Anne 
McKinne  her  successor  in  office.  Annual  meetings 
only  were  held,  and  the  Sunday  following  a  sermon  on 
missions  was  preached  to  the  congregation.  Mis- 
sions in  Bogota,  Armenia,  Brazil,  and  China  were  aided 
at  various  times  by  this  society.  The  first  meeting 
duly  recorded  occurred  on  February  3d,  1845.  Rev. 
C.  S.  Dod  was  then  pastor,  and  the  officers  of  the 
society  were  Mrs.  Sims,  Mrs.  McKinne,  and  Mrs.  Dod. 
The  collectors  were  Mrs.  Barton,  Miss  H.  Longstreet, 
and  Miss  Harriet  Smith.  The  education  of  an  Ar- 
menian girl,  besides  money  given  in  other  directions, 
then  constituted  the  work  of  the  society,  which  had 

(153) 


154  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

a  membership  of  fifty-eight  and  observed  a  monthly- 
concert  of  prayer  for  all  missions.  In  1847  Mrs.  B. 
McKinne  became  president;  Mrs.  Dod,  vice-president; 
and  Miss  H.  Smith — afterwards  Mrs.  Joseph  Bean — 
secretary  and  treasurer.  Mrs.  Bean  continued  in 
office  until  1883;  Miss  Longstreet,  Miss  A.  C.  Smith, 
and  Mrs.  John  Bones  served  as  collectors. 

In  1860  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Church  was  bom 
amid  the  throes  of  fratricidal  strife,  affirming  a  car- 
dinal principle  of  Presbyterianism — the  entire  separa- 
tion of  Church  and  State.  At  her  organization,  the 
trumpet  call  was  sounded  to  Foreign  Missions  in  our 
historic  building;  but  our  local  church  was  busily  en- 
gaged in  Home  Missions,  ministering  to  the  souls  and 
bodies  of  stricken  heroes,  therefore  there  were  no 
meetings  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  Society  during 
that  period  of  conflict.  A  collection,  however,  was 
taken  for  Home  and  Foreign  Missions  in  1865.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  Dr.  Robert  Irvine  labored  for  this 
and  every  branch  of  God's  work.  Dr.  William  Adams 
reorganized  the  society  in  1883.  Mrs.  Amos  White- 
head declined  the  presidency,  and  Mrs.  T.  P.  Branch 
was  elected  to  that  office.  Her  regime  was  the  begin- 
ning of  a  new  era  of  usefulness  and  service;  monthly 
meetings  were  inaugurated  with  monthly  dues.  Mrs. 
Robert  Robertson  was  elected  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. Miss  Goodale,  a  missionary  to  Brazil,  was  as- 
sisted at  that  time;  and  Mrs.  Randolph,  working  in 
Hanchow,  was  next  partially  supported  by  the  so- 
ciety. There  had  been  no  vice-president  since  the 
society's  reorganization,  so  1885  witnessed  the  insti- 
tution of  that  office  and  Mrs.  B.  F.  Brown's  election. 

On  the  suggestion  of  Mrs.  William  Wallace,  the  an- 
nual praise  meeting,  with  its  thankoffering,  was  intro- 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  155 

duced,  and  is  yet  in  vogue.  In  1886,  on  Mrs.  Branch's 
resignation,  Mrs.  James  Moore  became  president  and 
Miss  Mary  Craig  vice-president.  Mrs.  Louisa  Walker 
advocated  assistance  for  Miss  Safford,  who  had  been 
laboring  in  China,  and  was  then  endeavoring  to  raise 
funds  for  the  establishment  of  a  home  for  unmarried 
female  missionaries  in  that  country.  This  was  done, 
and  the  Sibley  Home,  named  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Josiah 
Sibley,  was  erected  in  Soochow. 

A  programme  committee  was  suggested  by  Dr. 
Plunket,  and  such  committee  was  appointed  in  1890. 
This  year  marks  the  birth  of  the  "Mission  Workers" 
and  the  " Extra-Cent-a-Day "  Band.  The  "Mission 
Workers"  is  a  society  composed  of  girls  in  training 
for  mission  work,  and  the  organizers  were  Mrs.  D.  L. 
Fullerton  and  Mrs.  William  J.  Cranston.  A  daily  offer- 
ing of  one  cent  is  presented  for  missions  on  God's  altar 
by  the  "  Extra-Cent-a-Day "  Band;  Miss  Marie  Brahe 
was  the  devoted  treasurer  of  this  band  for  many  years. 

Another  lusty  child  was  born  into  this  mission  family 
in  1896,  when  Mrs.  Harold  Lamb  and  Miss  Mamie 
Harris  (now  Mrs.  John  Shewmake)  organized  the  Boys' 
Band.  To  return  to  the  parent  society:  Mrs.  James 
Moore  resigned  in  1892,  and  Mrs.  B.  F.  Brown  was 
elected  to  the  presidency,  Mrs.  Moore  serving  as  vice- 
president — for  the  society  insisted  on  retaining  her  on 
its  official  board,  a  recognition  of  her  invaluable  serv- 
ices as  executive  officer.  Miss  Charlotte  Wardlaw  was 
elected  recording  secretary  in  1893,  and  her  successors 
have  been  Miss  Rachel  Reid  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Harper. 
Growth  in  membership  and  work  necessitated  new  of- 
fices, which  were  created  in  1893,  and  Mrs.  T.  D. 
Caswell  elected  corresponding  secretary  and  Mrs.  Cecil 
Cochrane     treasurer.       A    little    book    of     missionary 


156  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

programmes  was  first  published  in  1894,  and  its 
marked  success  has  resulted  in  the  yearly  addition 
of  a  link  to  the  chain  of  "Missionary  Circles,"  for 
such  is   the  publication   entitled. 

Miss  S.  E.  Fleming  was  sent  by  the  Presbyterian 
churches  of  this  city  as  missionary  to  China  in  1892, 
taking  up  the  work  of  Miss  Safford,  for  that  faithful 
servant  had  rested  from  her  labors,  having  joined  in 
the  song  of  "Harvest  Home"  in  1890.  This  society 
has  since  assumed  the  entire  support  of  Miss  Fleming, 
and  the  "  Extra-Cent-a-Day "  fund  is  devoted  to  that 
purpose.  The  Sibley  Home  is  now  located  near  the 
Presbyterian  Hospital  in  Soochow,  and  there  our  rep- 
resentative labors,  having  established  a  boarding  school 
for  Chinese  children. 

Mrs.  B.  F.  Brown  continued  in  office  until  1904,  when 
she  resigned,  after  years  of  devoted  and  efficient  service. 

The  society's  official  corps  for  1904  consists  of  Mrs. 
Oswell  R.  Eve,  president;  Mrs.  James  Moore  and  Mrs. 
B.  F.  Brown,  first  and  second  vice-presidents;  Miss 
Elizabeth  Harper,  recording  secretary;  Mrs.  T.  P. 
Branch,  corresponding  secretary;  Mrs.  Cecil  Cochrane, 
treasurer;  Miss  Mary  Plank,  treasurer  of  "Extra-Cent- 
a-Day"  Band;  Mrs.  William  Cranston,  secretary  of 
Cradle  Roll ;  Miss  Jenna  Garrett,  secretary  of  litera- 
ture; and  Miss  Gostenhofer,  librarian. 

A  cot  in  Dr.  Venable's  hospital,  the  support  of  a 
native  worker  in  Korea,  and  a  membership  in  the 
Anath  "  Heart  to  Heart"  Band,  also  gifts  through  many 
other  channels  as  appeals  reach  us,  must  be  mentioned 
in  a  statement  of  this  society's  work. 

In  Presbyterial  and  city  inter-denominational  unions 
this  society  participates,  thus  enlarging  her  borders  and 
gaining  zeal  and  strength.     The  little  ones  of  our  church 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  157 

are  dedicated  to  mission  work,  as  become th  Presby- 
terians, by  enrolment  on  the  Cradle  Roll. 

Pressing  forward,  with  eyes  uplifted  toward  the 
heavens  from  whence  cometh  our  help,  we  labor,  doing 
our  little  prayerfully,  trusting  God  for  the  fruition  of 
our  hopes  and  works.  Beyond  the  blue  dome  that 
limits  to-day's  vision,  our  eyes  shall  yet  behold  "the 
King  in  His  beauty,"  and,  perchance,  some  in  that 
Glorified  Throng  will  witness  that  "to  me  these  gave 
the  Bread  of  Life."  Redeemed  by  the  blood  of  the 
first  foreign  missionary,  descendants  and  inheritors  of 
the  Gentiles  to  whom  Paul  preached,  we  have  inscribed 
on  our  banner,  "The  World  for  Christ!" 


^eeD  ^otDing  anu  Eeaptng 


By  Elder  F.  M.  Stovall. 


AS  we  pause  on  this  centennial  occasion  and 
look  back  over  the  way  we  have  come,  we 
see,  as  related  elsewhere,  the  little  band  of 
believers  who  in  the  early  days  of  the  last  century 
organized  a  Presbyterian  church  in  this  community, 
increasing  season  by  season  under  the  Divine  favor, 
until  in  this  good  day  it  has  grown  into  a  great  con- 
gregation. When  we  contemplate  this  development  of 
our  local  Zion  from  such  small  beginnings  to  a  posi- 
tion of  such  numerical  strength  and  influence,  we  do 
well  to  thank  God  and  take  courage.  But,  while  we 
rejoice  in  our  increased  numbers  and  in  the  possi- 
bilities abiding  in  them  for  the  furtherance  of  Christ's 
Kingdom  in  the  world,  we  also  fittingly  rejoice  in  the 
lives  of  those  faithful  ones  who  have  passed  out  from 
our  flock  in  bygone  years — the  many  to  their  eternal 
rest,  the  few  to  labor  on  yet  a  Httle  while,  awaiting 
the  final  summons  to  join  the  great  host  of  the  re- 
deemed in  heaven.  Among  those  who  have  thus  gone 
forth  from  this  their  mother  church,  some  have  been 
called  to  preach  the  glad  tidings  of  the  Kingdom. 

In  attempting  to  make  suitable  mention  of  these 
specially  honored  ones,  we  are  again  constrained  to 
deplore  the  failure  of  our  records  to  supply  the  full 

(159) 


160  CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 

information  needed.  In  view  of  the  incompleteness 
of  our  data,  it  is  not  unreasonable  to  presume  that 
other  members  of  our  church  entered  the  ministry 
whose  names  are  not  found  in  the  roll  we  are  able 
to  present.  But  imperfect  as  this  roll  may  be,  we 
can  but  feel  that  God  has  signally  honored  us  in  set- 
ting apart  from  our  midst  so  goodly  a  number  to  pro- 
claim the  Word  of  Life,  and  we  make  grateful  record 
of  their  names.  They  are:  Rev.  John  Q.  A.  Danforth, 
Rev.  William  Leconte,  Rev.  Owen  P.  Fitzsimmons, 
Rev.  William  S.  Bean,  Rev.  Thomas  Mowbray,  Rev. 
John  E.  Adams,  and  Rev.  Julian  S.  Sibley. 

Messrs.  Danforth  and  Leconte  gave  their  labors  to 
the  foreign  field.  The  former  went  as  a  missionary 
to  China  nearly  sixty  years  ago  and  is  probably  dead. 
The  latter  we  know  fell  at  his  post  of  duty  in  Brazil. 
Mr.  Fitzsimmons  pursued  his  theological  studies  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Ladies'  Sewing  Society  of  this 
church,  and  was  ordained  to  preach  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Augusta.  Later  he  took  orders  in  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  died  a  clergyman  of  that  denomi- 
nation. Mr.  Adams  is  a  son  of  the  Rev.  William 
Adams,  D.  D.,  a  former  honored  and  beloved  pastor 
of  this  church.  Messrs.  Bean  and  Sibley  are  the  sons 
respectively  of  Mr.  Joseph  Bean  and  Mr.  William  C. 
Sibley,  our  deceased  elders,  whose  valued  counsels 
and  consistent  Christian  example  linger  with  us  as 
cherished  memories.  The  last  three  of  the  ministers 
named  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mowbray  are  still  sowing 
the  precious  seeds  of  truth  in  the  home  field. 

In  addition  to  the  two  formally  ordained  preachers 
mentioned,  who  went  out  from  this  communion  to 
carry  the  Gospel  to  foreign  countries,  our  church  is 
supporting  Miss  S.  Elizabeth  Fleming,  a  most  devoted 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  161 

and  efficient  worker  among  the  heathen  of  the  great 
city  of  Soochow,  China.  Many  years  ago  this  noble 
woman  severed  the  ties  of  a  loving  home  circle  and 
lifelong  friendships  that  she  might  tell  the  inhabit- 
ants of  that  far-away  land  of  a  Savior's  love. 

The  mother  church  rejoices  in  the  labors  of  these 
sons  and  daughters  who  have  consecrated  their  lives 
to  the  exclusive  service  of  our  Lord.  She  memorial- 
izes the  fideUty  of  those  who,  having  finished  their 
course,  are  now  wearing  crowns  of  righteousness,  and 
sends  greetings  of  affection  and  cheer  to  those  who 
are  yet  bearing  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day. 


Rev    J.  T.  PLUNKET,   D.  D.,  M.  D.,  Moderator. 

Henry  A.  Flisch,  Clerk; 
Osborne  M.  Stone, 
Dr.  George  A.  Wilcox, 
George  P.  Butler, 
F    M.  Stovall. 


H>taconatf 

HUGH  G.  McLAWS,  Chairman. 

Richard  D.  Crocker,  Vice-Chairman; 
William  Felix  Alexander,   Treasurer; 
Henry  A.  Brake,  Secretary; 
J.  Miller  Walker, 
Charles  F.  McQueen, 
Charles  E.  Whitney 


164  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE 


215oarD  of  %tn&tttsi 

O.  M.  STONE,  Chairman. 

W.  F.  Alexander,  Secretary  and  Treasurer; 

W.  M.  Alexander, 

H.  A.  Brahe, 

George  P.  Butler, 

William  H.  Fleming, 

H.  A.  Flisch, 

C.  B.  Garrett, 

H.  G.  McLaws. 

3|5usftcal  SDirector 

Samuel  T.  Battle. 

(0rgantfl!C 

Mrs  Kate  Root  Battle. 
Daniel  Webster  Lansdell. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


165 


asoll  of  pitxahn^\^ip 


Abernathy,  L.  E., 
Abernathy,  Mrs.  L.  E., 
Abernathy,  Mrs.  Sarah  E., 
Abernathy,  Miss  Mabel  C, 
Adams,  Mrs.  Floride  Calhoun, 
Adams,  Miss  Mary  A., 
Adams,  Miss  Annie  F., 
Addison,  Mrs.  Albertina  C.  (wife  of 

Wallace  G.), 
Alderson,  W.  H., 
Alderson,    Mrs.    Minnie    C     (wife    of 

W.  H.), 
Alderson,  Miss  Lillian  Eoline, 
Alexander,   Mrs.  J.  Adelaide  Moore 

(wife  of  William  M.), 
Alexander,     Mrs.     Helen     D.     Craig 

(wife  of  T.  W.), 
Alexander,  James  Bishop, 
Alexander,  Hugh  H., 
Alexander,  Mrs.  Mamie  Burton  (wife 

OP  Hugh  H.), 
Alexander,  William  Felix, 
Anderson,  A.  W., 
Anderson,   Mrs.    Hattie   H.    (wife   of 

A.  W.), 
Anderson,  Miss  Lola, 
Anderson,  Miss  Virginia, 
Anderson,  Miss  Eloise, 
Anderson,  T.  B., 
Anderson,  Mrs.  T.  B., 
Ansley,  Miss  Sarah  G., 
Ansley,  Miss  Lucy  M., 
Atwell,  Miss  Lila. 


Bailie,     Mrs.     Margaret     Courtney 
(widow  of  James  G.), 


Bailie,  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth, 

Bailie,  Thomas  G., 

Bailie,  George  A., 

Baker,     Mrs.     Louisa     M.     (wife    of 

Charles  F.), 
Baker,  Miss  Callie  Tennent, 
Baker,  Miss  Eunice  Mary, 
Baker,  Mrs.  Annie  Cozart  (widow  of 

Dr.  a.  H.), 
Baker,   Hinton  James, 
Baker,  Miss  Mary  Cozart, 
Baker,  John  Willie, 
Ballard,  Mrs.  Annie  Sandstrom, 
Bansley,   Mrs.   Margaret   H.    (widow 

of  William  W.), 
Bansley,  John  David, 
Bansley,    Mrs.    Seigred    Bryngelson 

(wife  of  John  David), 
Barnes,  Mrs.  Anna  Clark, 
Barnes,  Miss  Annie  Elizabeth, 
Barnes,  Edward  C, 
Barnes,  John  Thomas,  Jr., 
Barnes,  George  T., 
Battle,    Mrs.    Kate    Root    (wife    of 

Samuel  T.), 
Baxter,     Mrs.     Ella     F.     Alexander 

(wife  of  Edgeworth  H.), 
Benson,  William  E., 
Black,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ansley, 
Blanchard,  a.  W., 
Bones,  John  Phinizy, 
Boozer,  Samuel  K., 
BosHER,  Mrs.  Virginia  H., 
BowEN,  Charles  William, 
BowEN,    Mrs.    Viola    Hollingsworth 

(wife  of  Charles  W.), 
Bowles,  Mrs.  May  B.  (wife  of  J.  L.). 


166 


CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 


Bowles,  Miss  Marguerite, 

Brake,  Henry  A., 

Brake,   Mrs.   Pauline   Zeigler   (wife 

OF  H.  A.), 
Brake,  Miss  Mary  Pauline, 
Brake,  Miss  Marie  Leonhardt, 
Branch,  Mrs.  Anne  Elizabeth  (widow 

OF  T.  P.). 
Brand,  Miss  Beaufort  Irene, 
Brand,  Herbert  Hazel, 
Brand,    Mrs.    Carrie    Lea    (wife    op 

Herbert  Hazel), 
Brand,  W.  S., 

Brand,  Mrs.  Mattie  (wife  of  W.  S.), 
Britton,  William  B., 
Brown,  B.  F., 

Brown,  Mrs.  Emily  R.  (wife  of  B.  F.), 
Bryan,  Miss  Anna  Twiggs, 
Bryngelson,  William, 
Bryngelson,  Arthur  William, 
Burdell,  Lewis  McGran, 
Burhans,  Miss  Ada  Collette, 
Burton,  William  Shewmake, 
Burton,  Mrs.  Sallie  F.  Heindel  (wife 

OF  William  S.), 
Butt,     Mrs.     Catherine     J.     (widow 

OF  John  D.), 
Butler,  Mrs.  Margaret  E.  (widow  of 

George  P.), 
Butler,  George  P. 

Cameron,  Mrs.  Walter, 
Campbell,  Miss  Mary  R., 
Carmichael,  J.  Randolph, 
Carmichael,  Paul  Eve, 
Carmichael,  Mrs.  Sarah  M.   (wife  of 

Paul  Eve), 
Carmichael,  Miss  Florence  Oakes, 
Carmichael,  Miss  Elizabeth  Eve, 
Carpenter,  M.  A., 
Carr,  Charles  D., 
Carr.  Mrs.  Mary  Lou  (wife  of  Charles 

D.), 
Carter,   Mrs.   Georgia   F.    (widow   of 

John  B.), 


Carter,  Miss  Flewellyn, 

Caswell,    Mrs.    Lucy    W.    (widow    of 

Theodore  D.), 
Clancy,  Mrs.  J.  T., 
Clancy,  J.  Edgar, 
Clancy,    Mrs.    Lilla    B.    (wife    of    J. 

Edgar), 
Clark,  Clarence  Edgar, 
Close,  P.  C, 

Close,  Miss  Mary  Eugenia, 
Close,  Miss  Emma  S., 
Cochrane,    Mrs.    Laurana    R.    North 

(wife  of  Cecil), 
Cohen,  C.  Devaga, 
Cohen,  Mrs.    Emily    Ford    (wife    of 

C.  Devega), 
Conacher,  Mrs.    Isabella    B.    (widow 

of  Alexander), 
Conacher,  Robert  Douglas, 
Corley,  J.  Donald, 
CoRRY,  John  A., 

CoRRY,  Mrs.  (wife  of  John  A.), 
CoRRY,  Greer, 
Coskery,  Thomas  W., 
CosKERY,  Hugh  H., 
Craig,  William  J., 
Craig,  Miss  Mary  W., 
Craig,  Miss  Margaret  Martin, 
Crane,  Miss  Carrie, 
Cranston,   Mrs.   Anna   H.    (widow   of 

William  J.), 
Cranston,  Miss  Sadie  Whitehead, 
Cranston,  John  Craig, 
Cranston,  Henry  Hunter, 
Crocker,  Richard  D., 
Crocker,  Charles  E., 
Crouch,  Walter, 
Cumming,  C.  a., 
Cumming,     Mrs.     Annie    M.     (wife  of 

C.  A.), 
Cumming,  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth, 
Cumming,  Albert  Austin, 
Cunningham,  Mrs.  Lewis    Butt   (wipe 

OF  George  A.), 
Cuthbert,  Mrs.  Annie  M. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


167 


Davis,  Mrs.  Nannie  Partington, 
Davis,  Mrs.  Anna  Belle  Hickey  (wife 

OF  George  N.), 
Dawson,  James  D., 
Denning,  George  A., 
Denning,    Mrs.    Sallie    G.    (wife    of 

George  A.), 
Denning,  Miss  Hannah  H., 
Denning,  Miss  Killie  Belle, 
Denning,  Miss  Bessie  Perley, 
DeVaughn,  Mrs.  Daisy  Thomas  (wife 

OF  Arthur  H.), 
DoAR,  Mrs.  Josie  Eve  (wife  of  Frank 

Macbeth), 
Donaldson,  Mark  J., 
Doughty,   Mrs.   Julia   Burdell   (wife 

of  James  P.,  Jr.), 
Drummond,  Miss  Beatrice  Gertrude, 
DuGAS,  Mrs.  Margaret  Barrett, 
DuGAs,  Mrs.  Lucretia  Reid  (wife  of 

Edward  C). 

Ellington,  Mrs.  Julia  Turpin, 
Ellington,  Miss  Katie  Lee, 
Ellison,  Miss  Maude  Persis, 
Emerson,   Mrs.   Violet  Jordan   (wife 

OF  E.  Waldo), 
Eve,  Mrs.  Annabel  C.  Cranston  (wife 

OF  Harold  C), 
Eve,  Mrs  Mary  E.  (widow  of  John  C), 
Eve,  Miss  Olive  D., 
Eve,  Miss  Mamie, 
Eve,  Miss  Sarah  Anna, 
Eve,  Oswald  B., 
Eve,  Mrs.  Laura  T.  B.  (widow  of  Dr. 

Sterling  C), 
Eve,  Miss  Sarah  Garvin, 
Eve,  Miss  Katherine  Blackshear, 
Eve,  Dr.  Hinton  J., 
Eve,     Mrs.     Mary     Sibley     (wife     of 

Oswell  R.), 
Eve,    Mrs.     Katherine    Tutt    Ewing 

(wife  of  F.  Edgeworth). 

Falks,  Dr.  J.  H., 

Falks,  Mrs.  Jennie  (wife  of  Dr.  J.  H.), 


Falks,  Miss  Kossie, 

Falks,  Miss  Mary, 

Falks,  Miss  Effie  Lotus, 

Falks,  Miss  Eunice  Belle, 

Fargo,  Mrs.  Annie  B.  Davison  (wipe 

OF  George  J.), 
Fargo,  Miss  Mary  Belle, 
Fargo,  John  Davison, 
Fargo,  Miss  Grace  Gordon, 
Fargo,  Miss  Eliza  Bryson, 
Fargo,  William  Davison, 
Fargo,  Mrs.  Isabella  S., 
Fargo,   Mrs.    Mary   W.    Moore    (wife 

of  Joseph  Chester), 
Farr,  James  S., 
Ferris,  Mrs.   Alice   Potter   (wife  of 

Charles  H.), 
Fesler,  Frank  Nye, 
Fesler,     Mrs.     Josephine     (wife    op 

Frank  Nye), 
Fesler,  Miss  Nora, 
Fesler,  Charles  Mauk, 
Field,  Mrs.  Minnie  F.  (wife  of  W.  T.), 
Fischer,     Mrs.     Katherine    Houston 

(widow  of  Otto), 
Fleming,  James  L., 
Fleming,  William  H., 
Fleming,     Mrs.     Celeste      (wife     op 

W.   H.), 
Fleming,   Mrs.   Louisa  A.    (widow   of 

Robert  A.), 
Fleming,  Mrs.  Daisy  Berry  (wife  of 

T.  Porter), 
Fleming,  Mrs.  Lila  (wife  of  Frank), 
Flisch,   Mrs.   Pauline  W.   (widow   op 

Leonard), 
Flisch,  Henry  A., 
Flisch,  Miss  Leonia, 
Ford,    Mrs.    Mary    Ellen    (wipe    of 

Frank  G.), 
Ford,  Miss  Ellen  Ives, 
Ford,  Adrian  Chauncey, 
Foster,  Mrs.  W.  Harrison  (widow  of 

Dr.  W.  Harrison), 
Franklin,   Mrs.   Belle  V.   (widow  of 

Bernard), 


168 


CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 


Fraser,    Mrs.    Elizabeth    (widow    of 

Donald), 
Fraser,  William  Donald, 
Fry,  William  Wirt, 
Fry,  Mrs.  Ella  A.  (wife  of  V/m.  W.), 
Fry,  Miss  Elizabeth  McIlhenry, 
Fuller,    Mrs.    Maude    Ellison    (wipe 

OF  William). 


Gardiner,  James  T., 

Garrett,    Mrs.    Alice   M.    (widow    of 

William  A.), 
Garrett,  Miss  Jenna  H., 
Garrett,  Henry  Burt, 
Garrett,  Cornelius  B., 
Garrett,  Miss  Marguerite  Alice, 
Garrett,  VanHolt  Nash, 
Glover,  Mrs.  Susan  A., 
Gostenhofer,   Miss   Carolina  Louise, 
Greer,    Mrs.     Helen    F.     (widow    of 

John), 
Gredig,  William  G., 
Gregg,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Deborah  (wife 

of  William  S.), 
Gregg,  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth, 
Gregg,  Dr.  William  Shannon, 
Griffin,  Mrs.  Addie  C.  (wife  of  James 

W.), 
Griffin,  Miss  Marie  Viola, 
Giuffrida,  Mrs.  Sarah  E., 
Giuffrida,  Miss  Louise, 
Gould,  Mrs.  Harriet  G. 


Hackett,  William  Wright, 
Hackett,    Mrs.    Isabel    Dendy    (wife 

OF  William  W.), 
Hamilton,    Mrs.    Anna    T.    Urquhart 

(wife  of  Thomas), 
Hammell,  Mrs.  Martha  L., 
Hammell,  Miss  Mattie  L., 
Hardwick,  Henry  Lucas, 
Harper,    Mrs.    Sallie    E.    (widow    of 

James  E.), 
Harper,  Miss  Elizabeth, 


Harper,  Miss  Mary, 

Harper,  Miss  Lula, 

Harper,  Anderson  Walton, 

Harper,  Miss  Ellen, 

Hays,  Malcolm, 

Hays,  Mrs,  Clara   Menken    (wife   of 

Malcolm), 
Henderson,  James, 
Henderson,   Mrs.   Caroline   (wife   of 

James), 
Hillhouse,  William, 
Hillhouse,  Miss  Estell  L., 
Hill,  Henry  Clay, 
Hilton,  Mrs.  Jane  E., 
Hilton,  Miss  Minnie  A., 
Hixon,  Miss  Laura  Eugenia, 
HixoN,  Miss  Alice  Lena, 
Hobby,  Miss  Kluxie, 
Hobby,  Miss  Margaret  Wensley, 

HOLLINGSWORTH,    JaMES    H., 

Hollingsworth,  Mrs.  Tilla   B.   (wife 

OF  James  H.), 
Hollingsworth,  S.  L.. 
Hollingsworth,  Mrs.   S.   L.   (wife   of 

S.  L.), 
Hollingsworth,  Grady  Derritt, 
Holman,  William  H., 
Holman,  Charles  Francis, 
Holmes,  Willie  Henry, 
Holmes,    Mrs.   Jennie    Ione    (wife   of 

William  Henry), 
Holt,  Alfred  C.  B., 
Holt,  Miss  Elizabeth  Gran, 
Holt,  Miss  Mary  Eleanor, 
Holt,  Miss  Virginia  Whitehead, 
Houston,    Mrs,    Elizabeth    S.    (widow 

of  Alexander  R.), 
Houston,  William  Tennent, 
Howard,  Mrs.  Hattie  M.    (widow    of 

William  H.), 
Hughes,  Mrs.  J.   P., 
Hughes.  Miss  Lela  Hazel, 
Hull,   Mrs.   Alice   Sibley    (widow   op 

Asbury), 
Hull,  Miss  Emma  Georgia, 
Hull,  Miss  Alice  Sibley. 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


169 


Ingram,  Miss  Lucy, 

Ingram,  Miss  Lena  Maywood, 

Ingram,  Albert  Green, 

Irvine,  John  L.,  Jr., 

Irvine,  Mrs.  Sallie  H.  Wright  (wife 

OF  John  L.), 
Irvine,  Mrs.  Julia  (widow  of  Samuel 

D.). 


LeDoyan,  Mrs.  Carrie  (wife  of  Vic- 
tor C), 

Livingston,  George  H., 

Livingston,  Mrs.  Mildred  Mims  (wife 
OF  George  H.), 

Lowe,  Mrs.  Lelia  Jackson, 

Lowe,  Miss  Fannie  Kathleen, 

Lowe,  Miss  Mary  Ellen, 

Ludekens,  Mrs.  Mattie  S. 


Jackson,  Mrs.  Virginia  S., 
Jackson,  William  Elbert,  Jr., 
Jackson,  Mrs.  Croella  Doughty  (wife 

of  W.  E.), 
Jackson,  Mrs.  Lula  E., 
Jackson,  Mrs.  Catherine  W., 
Jackson,  Miss  Fannie  Kate, 
Jackson,  James  U., 
Jackson,  Mrs.   Edith   (wife  of  James 

U.), 
Jackson,  Walter  M.,  Jr., 
Jackson,  Daisy  King, 
Jefferies,  Mrs.  Hattie  Gould, 
Jefferies,  James  Gould, 
Johnson,  Edward  S., 
Jones,  Mrs.  Annie  Denning, 
Jones,  John  B., 
Jordan,  E.  M., 
Jordan,  Mrs.  E.  C, 
Jordan,  Miss  Rosa  A., 
Jordan,  Daniel  J. 


Kell,  Mrs.  Anna  R., 
Kellogg,  Dr.  W.  C, 
Kellogg,  Mrs.   W.  C, 
Kelly,  Samuel, 
Kelly,  Mrs.  Samuel, 
Kelly,  Miss  Christine. 


Lamar,  William  Lindsay, 
Lambert,  Mrs.   Elizabeth, 
Lambert,  Miss  Bessie  Leola, 
Lark,  Miss  Augusta  V., 
Leary,  Miss  Mary  Leona, 


Malone,  Mrs.  Ruth  E.   (wife  of  Dr. 

H.  H.), 
Martin,     Mrs.     Mary     Lou     Fleming 

(wife  of  William), 
Martin,  Mrs.  Adeline, 
Martin,  Clarence  Datus, 
Meyer,  Carl, 

Meyer,  Miss  Helen  Anna, 
Miller,  Lindsay  R., 
Milton,  Miss  Ida  Lee, 
Milton,  Miss  Lina  Lucile, 
Moller,  Mrs.  Annie  (wife  of  Henry  F.)  , 
Moody,  Miss  Emmie, 
Moore,     Mrs.    Alice     S.     (widow     of 

Stephen), 
Moore,  Miss  Florida  A., 
Moore,  Miss  Annie  D'Vall, 
Moore,     Mrs.     Anna     P.     (widow     of 

James  W.), 
Moore,  James  W.,  Jr., 
Moore,  Harvey  Wilson, 
Moore,  Dr.  Noel  McHenry, 
Moore,  Mrs.  Mary, 
Moore,  Miss  Minnie, 
Moore,  Miss  Anna  V., 
Moore,  Miss  Evie  Louise, 
Moss,  Mrs.  S.  T., 
Moss,  Miss  Melissa  Sarah, 
MouNCE,  John  Lee, 
Mounce,     Mrs.     Martha     E.     Holman 

(wife  of  John  Lee), 
MuNSON,  Lester  Law, 
McCarrel,  Mrs.  K.\te  Jord.^n  (widow 

OF  William), 
McKenzie,  John  H., 


170 


CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 


McKenzie,     Mrs.     Laura     (wife     of 

John  H.), 
McLaws,  Huguenin  G., 
McLaws,    Mrs.    Addie    Wildey    (wife 

OF  H.  G.), 
McLaws,  Dr.  R.  B., 
McQueen,  Charles  F., 
McRae,  R.  F.. 
McRae,  Mrs.  R.  F. 


Neely,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  (widow  of  John), 

Neese.  Henry, 

Neese,  Mrs.  Mamie, 

NiEBLiNG,  Miss  Effie  May, 

Newberry,  Miss  Elizabeth, 

Newhall,  Dr.  Forest  E., 

Neyland,  Miss  Mary, 

North,  John  A., 

North,  Miss  Mary  Craig, 

North,  Philip  S., 

North,  Henry  Martyn, 

North,  Mrs.  Belle  Walker  (wife  op 

Henry  M.), 
North,  Ernest  Moreland, 
North,  Mrs.  Amne  Stovall  (wife  of 

Ernest  M.). 


Oliver,  Frank. 

O'Neal,  Mrs.   Kate  B.  Teague   (wife 

of  Hugh), 
Owen,  Miss  Annie  Maria, 
Owen,  Miss  Edith  Greene. 


Parker,  William  Edward, 

Parker,    Mrs.    Kate    Augusta    (wife 

of  William  Edward), 
Patterson,  Mrs.  Julia  H.  Bryant, 
Pearce,  J.  Walter, 
Pearce,    Mrs.    Bettie    Watson    (wife 

of  J.  Walter), 
Philpot,  Mrs.  Mary  Belle, 
Phinizy,   Mrs.   Mary   C.   Vason    (wife 

of  Jacob), 


Picquet,  Mrs.  Caroline  V.  (widow  of 

Augustus  D.), 
Plank,  Miss  Mary  J., 
Plunket,  Mrs.  Sallie  Kennedy  (wife 

OF  Rev.  J.  T.), 
Plunket,  Thomas  Smyth, 
Plunket,  Henry  Clark, 
Plunket,  Miss  Anna  DeWitt  Collins, 
Plunket,  Paul  Wood, 
Pope,  Mrs.  Mary  W.  (wife  of  Fred  B.), 
Potter,  Asbury, 
Potter,  Mrs.  Asbury, 
Potter,  Miss  Alida  K., 
Potter,  David  M., 
Potter,  Mrs.   Emeline  F.   (widow  of 

Robert  W.), 
Prather,  William  Watts, 
Pressley,  Mrs.  Etta  Gregg  (wife  of 

Hughes),  ' 
Preston,    Mrs.    Clara    J.    (widow    of 

Joseph  M.), 
Preston,  Mrs.  Susan  M., 
Preston,  Miss  Daisy  Lou. 


Rae,  John, 

Rae,  Edward, 

Rae,  Alexander, 

Randall,  Mrs.  Kate  Hammond  (wife 

op  James  R.), 
Randall,  Miss  Catherine  H., 
Randall,  Miss  Ruth, 
Ransom,   Mrs.   Grove  Denning   (wife 

of  George  C), 
Raworth,  Mrs.  Harriet, 
Reid,  William  A., 

Reid,  Mrs.  Amelia  (wife  of  Wm.  A.), 
Reid,  Miss  Rachel, 
Reid,  Miss  Aurelia  Wheeler, 
Reid,  Miss  Elizabeth  Meldrum, 
Remsen,    Mrs.    Ella    H.    Tutt    (wife 

OF  Rem), 
Remsen,  Miss  Edith, 
Reynolds,  Percy  L., 
Reynolds,  Joseph  S., 
Roberts,  William  Sterling, 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


171 


Roberts,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  (wife  of  Will- 
iam S.). 

Rood,  Miss  Marion  Eola, 

Rood,  Cleiland  M., 

Rood,  Robert  Walton, 

Rossignol,  Mrs.  Leila  B.  Tutt  (widow 
OF  Andrew  K.), 

Rowland,  Mrs.  Annie  (widow  of  Sam- 
uel), 

Rutherford,  Miss  Mary, 

Rutherford,  Mrs.  Mary  E. 


Sandstrom,  F.  Oscar, 

Sandstrom,  Miss  Mabel  Maria, 

Sandstrom,  Oscar  Olaf, 

Savage,  Miss  Elizabeth  N., 

Schley,  Mrs.  Virginia  L.  (widow  of 
Robert), 

Schley,  Louis, 

Scott,  Mrs.  Jane  (wife  of  John  C), 

Shaw,  Fred  Gordon, 

Shaw,  Mrs.  Nina  May  (wife  of  Fred. 
G.), 

Shed,  Robert  Crawford, 

Shed,  Mrs.  Carrie  (wife  of  Robt.  C), 

Shed,  Miss  Elizabeth  Carrie, 

Shed,  W.  R.  L., 

Shewmake,  John  Troup, 

Shewmake,  Mrs.  Mamie  Harris  (wife 
OF  John  T.), 

Sibley,  Mrs.  Jane  E.  (widow  of  Will- 
iam C), 

Sibley,  Miss  Grace  Isabel, 

Sibley,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (wife  of 
Amory), 

Sibley,  Miss  Emeline  Amory, 

Sibley,  Miss  Leila  Estelle, 

Sibley,  Mrs.  Emma  T.  (widow  of 
George  R.), 

Sibley,  Miss  Anna  Belle, 

Sibley,  George  Royal, 

Simpson,  William  Wells, 

Smith,  Mrs.  Lillie  Lee  (wife  of  Ed- 
ward A.), 

Smith,  Miss'Isabel 


Smith,  Norman  W., 

Smith,  Miss  Julia  A. 

Smith,  Joel, 

Smith,    Mrs.    Lucretia    E.    (wife    of 

Joel), 
Smith,  Mrs.  Rosa  M.  (wife  of  Jere), 
Smith,  Miss  Louise, 
Smith,  Miss  Ella  Butler, 
Smith,  Miss  Mary  Cecile, 
Starr,   Mrs.  Lena   (wife  of  F.   F.), 
Starr,  Miss  Bessie  Rivers, 
Stebbins,    Mrs.    Rosa    M.     (wife    op 

Dudley  G.), 
Stone,  O.  M. 
Stone,  W.  D., 

Stothart,  Miss  Maude  Muller, 
Stout,  Mrs.  Otelia  Denning  (wife  of 

G.  O.), 
Stovall,     Mrs.     Courtney     Augusta. 

(widow  of  M.  a.), 
Stovall,  Francis  Marion, 
Stovall,   Mrs.  Jessie  Craig  (wife  of 

F.  M.), 
Stoy,  Julian  Cameron  Cleckley, 
Stoy,  Miss  Effie  Gertrude. 

i 

Tannahill,  Samuel, 

Tannahill.  Miss  Beatrice  Louise, 

Tannahill,  Robert  N., 

Tannahill,  Joseph  Day, 

Tanner,  Mrs.  Isabella  W., 

Tanner,  Miss  Helen  Henderson, 

Tanner,  Miss  Susie  Isabella, 

Tanner,  William  Winter, 

Teague,   Mrs.    Elizabeth    N.   Dawson 

(wife  of  Dr.  Newton  A.), 
Thew,  Miss  Anna, 
Thomas,  Miss  Marie  Elizabeth, 
Thomas,  Floyd  W., 
Thompson,  R.  S., 
Thompson,    Mrs.    Rebecca    (wife    of 

R.  S.), 
Thompson,  Frank  Keys, 
Thompson,  Willie  Starrotte, 
Thompson,  Miss  Linda  Rose, 


172 


CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 


ToALE,  Mrs.  Ida  (wife  of  George  E.), 

ToMMiNS,  George  R., 

ToMMiNS,  Mrs.  Minnie  Chandler  (wife 

of  George  R.), 
ToMMiNS,  William  Washington, 
Tommins,   Mrs.   Viola   Stoy   (wife   of 

W.  W.), 
Travis,  Mrs.  Susan. 

Urquhart,  Miss  Caroline  Andrews, 
Urquhart,  Miss  Margaret  Christina. 

Vason,  Mrs.  Anna  C.  (widow  of  Wm.), 
Verdery,    Mrs.    Annie    Winter    (wife 

op  Eugene), 
Veno,  John  Russell. 

Wadley,    Mrs.    Mary    C.     (widow    of 

Moses), 
Wadley,  Miss  Nellie, 
Walker,  Warren, 
Walker,  John  Woolfolk, 
Walker,  J.  Miller, 
Walker,  Mrs.  Lillian  Hyde  (wife  of 

J.  Miller), 
Walker,  Mrs.  Annie  Hammond  (widow 

of  George), 
Walker,   Mrs.   Carrie   McLean    (wife 

of  W.  H.  T.), 
Wallace,    Mrs.    Mary    E.    (widow    of 

John  W.), 
Wallace,  John  William, 
Wallace,  Fielding, 
Walton,  Mrs.  Julia  Scales  (wife  of 

Maurice), 
Walton,  Miss  Lula  C, 
Wardlaw,  Miss  Charlotte, 
Wardlaw,  Miss  Eliza, 
Wardlaw,  Miss  Sallie, 
Wardlaw,  Miss  Josephine  May, 
Wardlaw,  William  C, 
Weed,  Miss  Hester  J., 
Welch,  Dr.  Frank  Pierce, 
Welch,  Mrs.  Maggie  Tannahill  (wife 

OF  Dr.  Frank  P.), 
Wells,  Dr    George  H., 


Wells,  Mrs.   Hattie  L.   (wife  of  Dr. 

George  H.), 
Westmoreland,    Mrs.    A.    Leola    Gar- 
rett (wife  of  Jesse  W.), 
Weisiger,  Mrs.  Kate  Clanton  (widow 

OF  Samuel), 
Whitman,  P.  M., 

Whitman,  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  (wife  of  P.  M.), 
Whitney,    Mrs.    Sallie   J.    (widow    op 

Seymour), 
Whitney,  John  Barry, 
Whitney,  Charles  Erastus, 
Whitney,  Mrs.  Ruth  Smith   (wife  of 

Charles  E.), 
Whitney,  Frank  E., 
Whitney,    Mrs.    Luella    Buffington 

(wife  of  Frank  E.), 
Wilcox,  Miss  Sarah  Jane, 
Wilcox,  Dr.  George  A., 
Wilcox,     Mrs.     Ida    C.     (wife    of  Dr. 

George  A.), 
Wilcox,  George  Hand, 
Wilcox,  Miss  Irma, 
Wilcox,  Everard, 
Wilcox,  Howard  Van  Epps, 
Wilcox,  Mrs.  Ella  M.  Wright   (wife 

OF  Howard  V.  E.), 
Wilkinson,  Miss  Fannie  M., 
Wilson,  Mrs.  Anne, 
Wilson,  Miss  Mary, 
Wingfield,  Nisbet, 
Wingfield,   Mrs.   Susie   W.    (wife   of 

Nisbet), 
Wingfield,  Robert, 
Wingfield,  Wallace, 
Winter,  Mrs.  Anne  McKinne, 
Wood,  J.  Pinckney, 
Wright,  Mrs.  Lillie  B.   (wife  of  Dr. 

Thomas  R.), 
Wright,  Miss  Mattie  Wilkinson, 
Wright,  Miss  Lillie  Byron, 
Wright,  Miss  Anna  Burwell, 
Wright,  Miss  Annie  G.   P., 
Wright,  Philip  Carter, 
Wright,  Mrs.  Robert  Fleming  Smith 

(wife  of  Philip  C). 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


173 


COLORED   MEMBERS. 


Murray,  Mrs.  Martha, 

Perry,  Mrs.  Ethel  Jenkins  (wife  of 

Adam), 
Pitner,  Mrs.  Julia, 
Stephens,  Mrs.  Jane, 


Walton,  George  W., 
Walton,  Mrs.  Isabel  (wife  of  Geo.  W.) 
Winter,  Andrew  John, 
Winter,    Mrs.    Fannie    M.    (wife    of 
Andrew  John). 


NON-RESIDENT    ROLL. 

Alderman,    Mrs.     Gwendolyn    Hayes  Gardner,  Albert  S.  J 

(wife  of  W.  H.),  Gardner,  Mrs.  Mary  b'.  Sibley  (wife 

Ansley,     Mrs.    John     U.     (widow     of  of  Albert  S.  J.), 

J°«N  U.),  Gores,  Miss  Rose.' 

Askew,  Thomas  A., 

Askew,  Mrs.  Emma  (wife  op  Thos.  A.).  Henderson,  James,  Jr. 

Barnhart,  Mrs.  F.  S.,  Ingraham,  Mrs.  Mary  Belle  (wife  of 

Blount,  Miss  Mattie  Starnes,  F.  L.), 

Boyleston,  Mrs.  Georgia  Baxter,  Ingraham,  Miss  Gertrude    Clanton. 

Bradley,  Mrs.  Frances  Webb,  Irvine,  Robert  J.  C. 

Bramlitt,  William  E., 

Bramlitt,     Mrs.     Mary     J.     Bansley  Kaufman,  Mrs.  Margaret. 

(wife  of  William  E.), 

Butt,  Francis  M.,  Lamb,  Mrs.  Jennie  S.  Sibley  (wife  of 

Butt,  Mrs.  Savannah  Barrett  (wife  Harold), 

of  Edward  H.).  Lamkin,    Mrs.    Dora    Lilian    (wife    of 

W.  B.), 

Campbell,  Foster.  Lange,  Mrs.   Carrie  Louisa   (wife  of 

Ernest), 

Dawson,    Mrs.    Sarah    Burdell    (wife  Lange,  Miss  Ida  Wilhelmina, 

OF  Armine  O.),  Lange,  Miss  Elizabeth  MariIn. 

Donohoe,  Miss  Lillie  Gertrude,  Lanham,  Warren, 

Dye,  Mrs.  Leola  Guest.  Lanham,    Mrs.    Rachel    H.    Denning 

(wife  of  Warren), 

Falks,  Mrs.   H.   L.   Bansley  (wife  of  Lawton,  Mrs.    E.    Caroline    (wife    of 

James  Henry),  John), 

Flisch,  Miss  Julia  A.,  Luck,  Milton  T., 

Fochee,  Mrs.  Frances  Byne,  Luck,    Mrs.    Lillie   R.    (wife   of  Mil- 

FuLMER,    Mrs.    Kate    Rae    (wife    of  ton  T.). 
James  B.), 

FULLERTON,    D.    L.,  MaRTIN,    MiSS    ELIZABETH, 

Fullerton,  Mrs.   Elizabeth   (wife  of  McLeod,  William, 

^-   ^•)-  McMaster,  Dr.   David  Edwin, 


174 


CENTENNIAL   ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 


Meintzer,  John  C, 

Meintzer,  Mrs.  Amelia  Neibling  (wife 

OF  John  C). 
MiMS,  Dr.  Walter, 
MiMS,  Mrs.  Emma  E., 
MiMS,  Ella, 
Montgomery,   Mrs.   Roselle   Mercier 

(wife  of  John  Seymour). 

Neely,   Mrs.   Henrietta   Eve   (widow 
OF  Benjamin). 

Orchard,  Mrs.  F.  Benton. 

Parker,  Mrs.  Camille  Mercier  (wife 

OF  J.  J.), 
Pearce,  Miss  Lulu  Murray, 
Peckham,     Mrs.     Maude     E.     Thomas 

(wife  of  Thomas  Edwin). 

Radford,  Mrs    Mary  Jane, 
Ritchie,  Robert, 
Robertson,  Robert  L. 

Sibley,  Dr.  Barney  Dunbar, 
Sibley,  Mrs.  Carrie  Harris  (wife  of 

Dr.  B.  D.), 
Sibley,  William  Langley, 
Sibley,  John  A., 
Sibley,   Mrs.   Sarah   Virginia    (widow 

of  Samuel), 


Sibley,  Grigsby  Thomas, 

Sibley,    Mrs.    Mary    Smith    (wife    of 

Grigsby  T.), 
Smith,  Austin  Kearns, 
Smith,  Miss  Harriet  H., 
Smith,  Miss  Oswald  Eve, 
Smith,  Thomas  E., 
Smith,  Miss  Willie, 
Smith,  Mrs.  Rosa  F.  (widow  of  Hinson). 
Smith,  Charles  King, 
schaufele,  frederick, 
Stanton,  Miss  Louise  Herard, 
Stevens,  Mrs.  Mary  C. 

Thomas,  Mrs.  Mary  Clanton   (widow 

OF  Pinckney), 
Thomas,  Miss  Charlotte  Pinckney, 
Thomas,  Turner  Clanton, 
Thompson,  James  A., 
Timberlake,  Mrs.  Mildred  Eve, 
ToBiN,  Mrs.  Elizabeth. 

Walker,  Mrs.  Janie  M„ 

Walker,  Mrs.  Mary  G., 

Walker,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  L., 

Wardlaw,  Robert  James, 

Watson,  R.  J., 

Watson,  Mrs.  Alma  Brahe   (wife  of 

R.  J.). 
Whitney,  Eddy  Russell, 
Wilburn,  Young  C. 


RESIDENCE    UNKNOWN 


Bradfield,  Mrs.  Mary, 

Carmichael,   William, 

Dunham,  B.  G., 

Dunham,  Mrs.  Jennie  McWhorter, 

Griffiths,  John  E., 

Hightower,  Mrs.  Mary   R  , 

Howard,  Alfred  G., 


Howard,   Mrs.  Cornelia  A.   (wife  op 

Alfred), 
Hunt,  Mrs.  Mary, 
Jenkins,  David  Alonzo, 
Kerr,  Mrs.  William  F. 
Vaughn,  Charles  G, 


FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


175 


fit^t  ^u^bvUtian  ^unDa^  ^cl^ool 


Rev.  J.  T.  PLUNKET,  D.  D.,  M.  D.,  Pastor. 

George  P.   Butler,  Superintendent. 

James  L.  Fleming,  "| 

Mrs.  John  W.  Wallace,  J-  Asst.  Superintendents. 

Mrs.  B.  F.  Brown,  J 

John  B.  Whitney,  Secretary. 

Henry  A.  Flisch,  Treasurer. 

Alexander  Rae,  Postmaster. 

Miss  Mary  R.  Campbell,  Historian. 

Adrian  C.  Ford,  Librarian. 

Paul  Rossignol,  Assistant  Librarian 

Henry  Neese,  Usher. 


%tuc'^ets 


Miss  Mary  E.  Bailie, 
Miss  Callie  Baker, 
Miss  Marie  Brahe, 
Mrs.  B.  F.  Brown, 
Miss  Colie  Burhans, 
Miss  Flewellyn  Carter, 
Mrs.  Cecil  Cochrane, 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Cranston, 
Mrs   C.  S.  Cumming, 
Mrs.  a.  H.  DeVaughn, 
Mrs.  Emmerson, 
Miss  Olive  D.  Eve, 
Miss  Sadie  A.  Eve, 
Miss  Sadie  G.  Eve, 
Miss  Jennie  Falks, 
Miss  Nell  Ford, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Harper, 
Miss  Mary  Harper, 
Miss  Minnie  A.  Hilton, 
Miss  Kathleen  Lowe, 
Mrs.  H.  H.  Malone, 


Mr.  H.  G.  McLaws, 
Mrs.  H.  G.  McLaws, 
Miss  Florida  Moore, 
Miss  Bessie  Newberry, 
Miss  Mary  North, 
Mrs.  Walter  Pierce, 
Miss  Mary  Plank, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Reid, 
Miss  Rachel  Reid, 
Hon.  Joseph  S.  Reynolds, 
Mrs.  George  R.  Sibley, 
Miss  Louise  Smith, 
Mr.  F.  M.  Stovall, 
Mrs.  F.  M.  Stovall, 
Mrs.  J.  Miller  Walker, 
Mrs.  John  W.  Wallace, 
Miss  Eugenia  Walton, 
Miss  Charlotte  Wardlaw 
Miss  Eliza  Wardlaw, 
Miss  Josephine  Wardlaw. 


FOR  YEAR   1903 

Average  attendance 219 

Cradle  Roll 38 

Home  Department 80 


176  CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE 


EeiD  jHemorial  ^untia^  ^cl^ool 


Henry  L.  Hardwick,  Superintendent. 

Mrs.  G.  W.  Hardwick,  Librarian  and  Organist. 

Mrs.  Cuthbert,  Treasurer. 

Miss  Card, 

Miss  Daisy  Carmichael 

Mrs.  J.  D.  Dawson. 

^cljolarsf 

Average  attendance 30 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH.  177 


Mittt^iht  ^unDat  ^ci^ool 


<Bftictts 

Charles  E.  Whitney,  Superintendent. 
R.  A.  Heath,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

%tRC\)tV& 

Miss  Maude  Stothart, 
Miss  Daisy  Gunby, 
Miss  H.  M.  Denning, 
Miss  Lucy  Ingraham. 

Average  attendance 24 


178 


CENTENNIAL    ANNIVERSARY. 


CRADLE   ROLL. 


Addison,  Ethel  Virginia, 
Alexander,  Anna  Wilson, 
Alexander,  Henrietta  Bishop, 
Alexander,  Sarah  Elizabeth, 
Alexander,  Thomas  Williamson,  Jr. 
Allen,  Richard  Elliot, 
Allen,  Elizabeth  Eve, 
Allen,  Joseph  Eve. 

Battle,  Edith  Marion, 
Baxter,  Elvera  Gratton, 
Baxter,  Lucy  Alexander, 
Bansley,  John  David, 
Bramlitt,  John, 
Bramlitt,  Camile  Elizabeth, 
BowEN.  Charles,  Jr. 

Campbell,  Mary  Roma, 
Caswell,  Louise  Harriet, 
Clark,  Clarence  E.,  Jr., 
Clark.  Thomas  Shepherd, 
Clark,  Mary  J., 
Cohen,  Nell  Ford, 
Craig,  Roy  Alexander. 

Davis,  Annie  Smith, 
DeVaughn,  James  Asbury, 
DoAR,  Frank  Macbeth,  Jr. 

Emerson,  Alice  St.  Clair, 
Eve,  Annabel  Craig. 

Fargo,  Julia  Carter, 
Ferris,  Frances  Briggs, 
Fleming,  Elizabeth  Moragne. 


Hill,   Evelyn  Marian. 

Martin,  William,  Jr., 
Martin,   Robert  Fleming, 
Martin,  Louise  Erwin, 
McLaws,  Huguenin  Wildey, 
Mounce,  John  Lee,  Jr. 

North,  Courtney  Stovall, 
North,  Henry  Martin,  Jr., 
North,  Maude  Pressley. 

Pierce,  Myra  Watson, 
Pierce,   Walter  Hill, 
Pierce,  Frank, 
Pierce,  John, 
Porter,   Elizabeth, 
Porter,  Mary. 

Simonds,   Elizabeth, 
SiMONDs,  John. 

Vason,  James  Babcock. 

Walker,  James  Miller,  Jr. 
Walker,  Mary  Belle, 
Walker,  Hyde, 
Walker,  Stuart  Phinizy, 
Walton,  John, 
Warner,  Ira  Fallett, 
Welch,  Annie  Lydia, 
Whitney,  Bessie  Grace, 
Whitney,  Charles  Barry, 
Whitney,  Moragne  Alexander, 
Wilcox,  Catherine  Wright. 


Gardiner,  Lyle  Sears. 


A  BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 
During   the    Pastorate   of    Rev.   Jos.    R.    Sevier,  D.  D.  January  1.   1911   to  January  15,   1925 


The  Centennial  volunin  in  which  this  is 
to  be  inserted  covered  the  history  of  our 
church  until  1904.  Rev.  J.  T.  Plunkett,  D. 
D.  continued  his  fruitful  ministry  until  the 
summer  of  1909.  when  he  accepted  a  call  to 
the  South  Highland  Presbyterian  church  of 
Birmingham,  Ala.  His  leaving  caused  gene- 
ral regret  throughout  the  city,  for  he  was 
beloved  by  people  of  all  creeds  and  all  races. 
To  the  deep  sorrow  of  his  many  friends  he 
passed  from  this  life  in  November  1912. 
Memorial  services  were  held  in  this  church 
and  a  beautiful  marble  tablet  to  liis  memory 
was  erected  in  the  vestibule  of  the     church. 

Rev.  Joseph  R.  Sevier  Called 
.After  the  pulpit  had  been  vacant  for  al- 
most a  year  and  a  half  the  congregation  is- 
sued a  unanimous  call  to  Rev.  Jos.  R.  Sevier, 
pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church, 
of  Alexandria,  Va.  The  call  was  accepted 
and  the  present  pastorate  began  on  Jan.  1, 
1911.  For  several  years  after  coming  to 
Augusta  Dr.  Sevier  also  had  charge  of  the 
Reid  Memorial  Church  on  the  hill,  which 
was  a  mission  of  the  First  Church.  There 
Sunday  School  was  held  every  Sunday  after- 
noon and  preaching  service  every  Thursday 
evening.  Several  years  later  this  attractive 
church  was  organized  into  a  Church  and 
Rev.  S.  L.  McCarty  was  called  as  its  pastcjr. 
(Juite  a  number  of  our  members  transferred 
their    membership    to    the    Reid    Memorial. 

General    Assembly,    Synod    and    Presbytery 

Our  General  .-Kssembly  celebrated  its  Semi- 
Centennial  in  connection  witli  its  meeting  in 
Louisville,  Ky.  in  1911.  Tliis  church  sent 
Dr.  Sevier  its  pastor  with  a  gavel  made  from 
wood  taken  from  tills  old  church  where  the 
first  assembly  was  held  in  1861  which  he 
presented  to  that  assembly.  Dr.  Sevier  was 
accompanied  on  this  mission  l)y  Elder  Chas. 
E.  Whitney,  who  was  the  commissioner 
from  the  Augusta  Presbytery,  and  by  Deacon 
'!'.   I.   Hickman   of  this  church. 

A  year  or  so  later  our  pastor  was  made 
moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Georgia  at  its 
annual  session,  held   in    La   (jrange,   (ia. 

The  Synod  lield  its  meeting  in  our  ciiurch 
several  years  later,  when  Rev.  Jno.  W.  Cald- 
well, D.  D.,  (a  grandson  of  Dr.  B.  M.  Palm- 
er)  of  New   Orleans,  presided  as  moderator. 

The  Presbytery  of  Augusta  has  met  with 
us  twice  during  the  present  pastorate,  and 
the  Georgia  Sunday   Scliool  Association,  and 


the     Christian     Endeavor    Convention,     have 
each  met  with  us  once. 

Noted  People  Here 

Shortly  after  his  nomination  for  the  presi- 
dency Hon.  Woodrow  Wilson  visited 
Augusta,  the  place  where  he  spent  thirteen 
years  of  his  boyhood.  He  worshipped  in 
our  church  on  Sunday  morning,  and  took 
dinner  in  the  Manse,  where  he  showed  great 
interest  in  looking  over  the  old  home  of  his 
boyhood.  On  several  later  occasions  our 
pastor  was  received  by  him  in  the  White 
House,  when  he  always  expressed  his  deep 
interest  in  Augusta  and  the  First  Church. 

Many  winter  tourists  stopping  at  the  Bon 
Air  and  Hampton  Terrace  Hotels  were  at- 
tendants at  the  First  Church.  For  several 
years  the  Street  Railway  operated  special 
cars  from  these  two  hotels  to  the  church. 
Among  the  noted  people  wlio  have  been 
regular  worshippers  aln:ost  every  winter  are 
Rev.  David  Gregg,  D.  D.  President 
Emiritus  of  Western  Theological  Seminary, 
Dr.  .\.  .\.  Vandervere  of  .Albany,  Rev. 
Timothy  Stone  of  Chicago,  Dr.  Jones  and 
V)r.  Covert  of  Chicago,  Dr.  Jos.  A.  Vance  of 
Detroit.  Several  of  these  Divines  have 
lavored    us   vvitli    sermons   while   liere. 

The  Sunday  School 

Tile  Sunday  School  of  tlie  First  L  hurch 
has  l)een  under  the  able  and  efticient  direc- 
tion of  Superintendent  Geo.  P.  Butler  for 
more  than  twenty-three  years.  Several  years 
ago  its  hour  of  meeting  was  changed  from 
tlie  afternoon  to  the  morning,  with  the  re- 
sult that  many  more  adults  have  taken  an 
niterest  in  its  work  than  formerly.  Also 
It  has  helped  greatly  in  increasing  the  attend- 
ance of  the  morning  service. 

The  Men's  Class  has  been  very  successful, 
attracting  large  numbers  of  men.  It  has 
liad  as  its  regular  teacher  Mr.  J.  Edgar 
iVdbyn,  until  lie  left  tlie  city  some  m..ntb- 
a^o.  and  since  that  time  Mr.  C.  B.  Currie. 

Lreat  interest  has  been  shown  by  the  men 
ni  the  missionary  work,  and  for  several 
yiars  Rev.  S.  C.  Farrior.  of  China,  has  been 
supported  l)y  this  class.  Recently  additional 
luiids  have  been  raised  for  the  partial  sup- 
port   of    Rev.    l-:arl    King,   of    Africa. 

Tlie  women's  Biblt-  Class  has  also  had  a 
vt-ry  splendid  record.  Mrs.  B.  F.  Brown 
wa.s  tile  active  teaciier  until  her  iIlne.-,6 
several   years   ago.      Since   that    time   she    has 


l)eeii  assisted  by  Mrs.  Jos.  R.  Sevier.  This 
class  has  been  quite  active  in  giving  to  va- 
rious causes,  and  assists  in  the  support  of 
Mr.   King. 

The  Philathea  Class,  under  the  leadership 
of  Mrs.  W.  C.  Lyetli  lias  been  most  success- 
ful, as  have  been  the  classes  for  young  men 
and  younger  girls. 

The  Beginners  under  direction  of  Mrs. 
Henry  North  and  her  able  assistants  have 
furnished  and  equipped  a  most  l^eautiful 
room  on  the  second  floor,  where  tlie  little 
ones  have  attractive  little  tables  and  chairs 
all  painted  white. 

The  Primary  department  under  leadership 
of  Miss  Mamie  Bailey  and  Airs.  Oswell 
Battey  Eve  also  have  an  attractive  room 
and    enthusiastic    class. 

Revivals 

During  tlie  present  pastorate  tliis  church 
has  taken  part  in  Union  Revival  services 
led  In-  Rev.  Geo.  R.  Stuart,  in  a  tent  near 
the  Union  Station;  Rev.  Frank  Wright,  in 
tlie  C.  iK:  W.  C.  warehouse:  and  Ciipsey 
Sniitli,  in  a  tent  in   .-\llen    F'ark. 

!n  our  own  churcli  meetings  have  been 
licld  l>y  Rev.  J  Ernest  Thacker.  of  Norfolk; 
Kev.  Chas  R.  Ne:l)it,  of  Kansas  City;  Rev. 
lA)uis  F.  Schafer,  of  Northfield.  Mass.;  Rev. 
Andrew  Blackwood,  of  ColuniI)ia;  Rev.  R. 
(i.  McLees  of  Cliatham,  \'a.;  Rev.  Chas. 
H.  Myers  of  Green.sboro,  and  In-  t!ie  pastor 
liimself. 

Members  in  Full  Time  Service 

This  clnirch  lias  the  pleasure  of  claiming 
as  meml)ers  the  following  men  and  women 
who  have  given  them:  elves  to  whole  time 
Christian  service: 

Rev.  Tluis.  Mahray  of  Salem,  \'a.:  Rev. 
Julian  S.  Sibley,  1).  I),  of  Gainsville,  (Ja. 
and  Rev.  Marold  K.  Wright  of  Edgefield, 
S.  C. 

The  f(dlovving  have  entered  sucli  service 
during    the   present    pastorate: 

Rev.  1.  E.  Phillips,  Morriston,  I'^la.:  Rev. 
Edw.  C.  Clyde,  Phoebus,  Va.;  Mr.  P.  A. 
McArthur,  V.  M.  C.  .\.  Macon,  (Ja.;  Miss 
h'thel  Hitt,  Assembly  Training  School. 
Richmond,  \'a.;  Miss  Julia  Lake  Skinn.er, 
pastor's  assistant,  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  and 
.Miss  Corinne  Dicks,  training  for  Mission- 
ary   nurse. 

Missionary  Facts 

This  church  has  a  record  of  contributions 
from  its  missionary  society  as  far  back  as 
1828.  This  is  one  oi"  the  oldest  organized 
societies   in    .\merica.      It   assisted   Alexander 


H.  Stephens  in  securing  his  education.  The 
money  thus  advanced  was  repaid  by  him, 
and  later  he  assisted  more  than  seventy 
j-oung  men  and  young  women  in  securing 
their  education. 

This  society  was  supporting  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Fleming  at  Soochow,  China  when  the 
present  pastorate  began.  At  the  death  of 
Miss  Fleming  her  successor  Miss  Mabel 
Currie  was  taken  and  her  support  has  con- 
tinued. A  former  member  of  our  church 
supports  Rev.  Lowry  Davis  of  Kashing, 
China,    and    credits    his    gift    to    this    church 

The  Men's  Class  supports  Rev.  S.  C. 
Farrier  in  China,  and  have  a  share  in  the 
work  of  Rev.  Earl  King,  in  Africa,  Be- 
sides this  several  thourand  dollars  is  given 
each   year   to   the   general   work   of   missions. 

Nacoochie  Institute  in  the  mountains  of 
North  Georgia  has  been  a  special  object  of 
our  interest  for  many  years.  Regular  gifts 
are  made  to  Thornwell  Orphanage  and 
otlier    worthy    causes. 

Contributions 

During  the  fourteen  years  of  the  presc.it 
pastorate  the  gifts  of  this  church  have 
steadily  increased.  The  introduction  of  the 
Duplex  Envelopes  and  the  Every  Member 
Canvass  have  greatly  stimulated  general 
giving.  The  entire  budget  of  the  church 
was  about  ten  thousand  dollars,  while  now 
it  is  more  than  twenty-four  thousand.  Last 
year  we  gave  about  as  much  to  missions 
a:    to    current    exi)enses. 

Camp  Hancock 

When  America  entered  the  world  war  and 
decided  to  locate  cue  of  its  camps  near 
Augusta  our  Christian  l-liidcavor  Society  be- 
came very  active  in  helping  with  the 
soldiers.  Large  numbers  of  them  attended 
our  services  and  took  part  in  our  organiz.i- 
tions.  Having  an  afternoon  Sunday  Scho(d 
at  that  time  it  was  found  that  many  of  the 
stddiers  de.sircd  to  remain  for  the  evening 
service.  So  a  number  of  ladies  provided 
free  suppers  for  all  who  caretl  to  remain. 

During  the  lii>tory  of  Camp  Hancock  the 
Xortheni  Church  ;  U])plied  us  \\ith  a  camp 
pastor  Rev.  i'Ved  W.  Bacliemeyer  of  Iiidi:in- 
.ipolis  who  did  splendid  work  among  the 
>c>ung  men  in  training  here. 
Memorials 

The  four  ornamental  liuht^  on  tlie  front 
gate  posts  were  installed  1)\-  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Will.   A.    Lee  as  a   memorial   to   their  son. 

The  iK-autifuI  jtiijonica  Inisli  between  the 
church    and    Sunday    .school    was    planted    by 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  B.  Chapman  as  a  memorial 
to   their   children. 

The  handsome  silk  flag  was  presented  to 
the  church  jjy  the  Market  Square  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.  as  a  token 
of  their  appreciation  of  the  cordial  reception 
we  gave  the  boys  of  the  28th  division  wliile 
at  Camp  Hancock.  The  marble  Keystone 
on  tlie  front  of  the  church  was  presented  by 
the  men  of  the  28th  division,  as  a  "stone  of 
appreciation."  The  bronze  tablet  and  the 
flower  beds  in  front  of  tlie  Sunday  School 
liuilding  were  given  l)y  our  own  jieople  as  a 
memorial  to  the  men  of  tlie  28th  division 
who  gave  tlieir  lives  in  tlie  world  war. 
Although  our  own  service  flag  carried  forty- 
seven  stars,  not  one  of  theie  noble  young 
men  or  women  lost  their  lives  in  the  service. 

.\  I)eautiful  silver  vase  was  given  to  the 
churcli  by  Miss  Ansle3-  in  memory  of  her 
sister. 

Mr.  P.  S.  Xortli  Ijequeatlied  $5()i).()0  to  our 
churcli. 

Material  Improvements 

During  these  fourteen  years  tiie  Church, 
Sunday  School,  and  Manse  liave  been 
liainted  several  times.  New  twin  furnaces 
have  been  installed  in  the  church,  and  an 
additional  furnace  in  the  Sunday  School 
building.  Improved  plumbing  equipment 
has  been  inrtalled.  Tlie  entire  ele^ctric  liglit 
system  has  been  rebuilt,  and  electric  sign 
placed  across  Seventh  Street.  The  grounds 
i)ack  of  the  church  have  been  iilled  in,  and 
a  large  mound  constructed  upon  which  a 
cliurch  sign  was  made.  Two  excellent  ten- 
nis courts  with  good  back   stop:    were  built. 

The  study  has  been  equipped  with  desk, 
typewriter,  writerpress,  mimecgraph,  ad- 
dressograpli,  safe-cabinet,  and  other  office 
fi.xtures. 

Tlie  Open  .\ir  Kc|uipment  consists  of 
]datlorni,  Ijenches,  and  electric  lights,  all  of 
whicli  are  stored  under  the  Sunday  Sclioo! 
building    during    the    winter. 

A  modern  organ  blower  was  l)ougiit  and 
installed,  and  the  organ  has  been  repaired 
<jn  several  occasions.  Large  electric  vacuum 
cleaner   was   also   purchased. 

The  tile  vestibule  of  the  cluircli  has  l)cen 
relaid,  the   central   part   i)eing   set   in    cement. 

Tlie  floor  in  the  Ladies  bible  class  and  tlie 
I'rimary  rooms  have  been  leveled,  and  mucii 
of  the  colored  glass  in  the  Sunday  School 
l)uilding  has  been  rejilaced  by   clear  glass. 

The  Beginners  Department  has  been  equip- 
IK'd  with  low,  white  tables,  and  small  chairs. 

Pianos  have  been  given  or  loaned  to  the 
Sunday  School,  one  of  wliicli  is  in  tlie  Alen's 
Llass,  and  the  other  in   tlie   I'rimary  room. 

General  Notes 

During  the  present  pastorate  mur  printed 
<iirectories  iun'e  l)een  issued.  Bulletins  for 
distribution     in     tlie     church     were     used     for 


several  years.  These  were  supplemented  in 
1916  by  the  Presbyterian,  which  is  mailed  to 
all  of  the  members  of  the  church. 

Some  years  ago  this  church  had  the 
pleasure  of  hearing  a  series  of  lectures  on 
the  "Fundamentals,"  delivered  by  the  mem- 
bers  of   the    faculty   of    Columbia    Seminary. 

In  1924  the  pew  rentals  were  abolished, 
and   the  pews  freed. 

In  1923  Twiggs  Street  was  paved,  costing 
this  church  $1,000.00  as  its  part  of  the  ex- 
penses. 

In  1916  the  trustees  transferred  the  care 
of  the  property  of  the  church  to  tlie  deacons. 

Several -years  ago  the  trustees  sold  the 
property  belonging  to  the  church,  located  at 
the  corner  of  Seventh  and  Ellis.  The  pro- 
ceeds of  this  sale  were  invested,  and  the 
interest  is  u:ed  in  supporting  tiie  Sunday 
School. 

During  the  present  pastorate  oi  fourteen 
years  1190  members  have  been  added  to  the 
cliurcli. 

Death  of   Olficials 

During  the  present  pastorate  this  church 
has  lost,  by  death,  the  following  officers: 

Mr.  H.  A.  Brahe,  Dr.  Geo.  A.  Wilcox, 
Mr.  C.  E.  Whitney,  Elders,  and  .Mr.  E.  S. 
Johnson  a   Deacon. 

Disasters 

During  tlie  prer.ent  pastorate  this  church 
has  sulfered  fnmi  two  floods  which  swept 
over  .\ugiista.  These  were  followed  by  t!ie 
Ijuilding  of  the  levee  which  has  protected 
.\ugusta    from    such    disasters. 

In  1916  the  great  fire  swept  over  the 
northeastern  portion  of  our  citj-  rendering 
fifty-six  of  our  families  homeless  in  one 
nig  lit.  Many  of  these  members  did  not  re- 
build in  this  section  of  the  city,  and  thus 
iieavy   losses   were  sustained   by   our   church. 

Going  to  Take  Up  School  Work 

.\.ter  long  and  earnest  delii)eratioii  Dr. 
Sevier  decided  to  accept  the  Presidency 
of  Fassifern  School  for  girl:.,  located  at 
Heiidersonville,  N.  C.  He  and  Mrs.  Sevier 
iiave  been  most  active  in  their  work  with 
the  young  people  of  our  church,  and  through 
tamj)  Cireystone  with  the  girls  of  the  en- 
tire Southland.  The  school  to  which  they 
go  is  a  preparatory  High  School,  accredited 
l)y  the  Southeastern  Association  of  Second- 
ary Schools,  which  tlie>'  hope  to  tlevelop  in 
to  a   Junior   College. 

Wlien  the  resignation  was  i)resented  the 
congregation  \-oted  very  heartily  to  ask  Dr. 
Sevier  to  reconsider,  but  as  he  felt  this  was 
a  call  of  God  to  a  greater  service,  the  con- 
.uregation  reluctant  concurred  with  him  in 
asking  Augusta  Presbytery  to  dissolve  the 
relationshii>  as  jiastor  and  people  to  take 
effect   Jan.    15,    1925. 


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